AT A GLANCE

• Online gambling is skyrocketing, with 14% of U.S. adults betting on sports online.
• Experts warn digital betting carries greater risks and can lead to faster financial losses.
• Public perception of sports betting has shifted, with more Americans now calling it harmful.
• Young adults and Black and Hispanic Americans are among the most active online sports bettors.

Online Gambling Risks: What to Know as Digital Sports Betting Surges Nationwide

Online sports betting has never been easier, and the numbers prove it. Fourteen percent of U.S. adults say they place sports bets online at least occasionally, according to a February poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Sports betting scandals continue to make headlines, but that hasn’t slowed participation.

Public health advocates and financial experts are urging people to understand the risks before logging on. Caleb Silver, editor in chief at Investopedia, summed it up bluntly: “Gambling and ‘responsibly’ seem to be oxymoronic, because if you’re gambling it’s all about risk. But people still do it. Online gambling and sports betting are only becoming more popular.”

Since the Supreme Court cleared the way in 2018, 38 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized sports betting, according to the American Gaming Association.

The biggest difference between wagering online and betting inside a casino is speed. Bets can be placed instantly, repeatedly, and with minimal friction. Heather Eshleman, director of operations at the Maryland Center for Excellence on Problem Gambling, noted that losses can pile up much faster online than they do in person.

Prediction markets such as PredictIt and Kalshi have also widened the landscape, offering wagers on elections, celebrity news, and even weather events.

Advocates say the strongest warning signs revolve around time and money. If betting begins to interfere with relationships, responsibilities, or basic financial needs, the behavior may be sliding into unhealthy territory.

“We encourage people to only use money they would use for fun and entertainment, not money that should be used to pay the mortgage or the rent or to pay for food,” Eshleman said. Silver agreed, adding that bettors should establish how much they’re willing to lose before they ever open an account.

Most major betting platforms, including FanDuel and DraftKings, offer “responsible gambling tools.” These include limits on time, deposits, total wagers, and losses. The key, experts say, is to set the boundaries before the excitement kicks in.

Eshleman also recommends external blocking apps like GambBan and BetBlocker. Those who suspect they may already have a problem can call 1-800-GAMBLER or find a local Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

Investopedia’s Silver said his team added gambling terminology to their financial site because the lines between sports betting, trading, and cryptocurrency speculation have blurred for many users. He encourages people to understand the basics before placing a single bet: money lines, parlays, odds, and worst-case losses.

“The likelihood is that you will lose,” he said. “So, if you’re willing to lose, how much are you willing to lose?”

Leaders at major platforms say their responsible-use tools are meant to function like seatbelts. Cory Fox of FanDuel said it’s in the company’s interest to make sure customers can stay on the platform safely over time. Lori Kalani of DraftKings made a similar comparison, likening limit-setting to taking an Uber on a night you expect to drink.

Eshleman said healthy coping habits make gambling problems less likely. Stress and isolation, on the other hand, can push people toward impulsive betting. “If you’re doing it alone, that’s a red flag that it’s not an activity that’s healthy for you,” she said.

She encouraged healthier outlets like music, walking, better sleep, and more social interaction.

Public attitudes toward legalized sports betting have shifted since 2022. A new Pew Research Center survey found that 43% of adults say legal sports betting is bad for society, up from 34% three years ago. Forty percent now say it’s bad for sports, up from 33%.

Even as criticism rises, most Americans say betting has neither a positive nor negative impact. And the number of people who actually bet hasn’t changed much: 22% of adults say they have wagered on sports in the last year, a slight increase from 19%.

The major growth area is online betting. Ten percent of U.S. adults say they’ve made an online wager in the past year, up from 6% in 2022. This mirrors the rapid expansion of betting apps and ads.

Forty-three percent of Americans now say they’ve heard “a lot” about legalized betting, and another 20% have heard “a little,” up from 56% total awareness in 2022.

Young adults remain the group most likely to bet. Thirty-one percent of people under 30 have wagered in the past year, including 36% of young men. Black and Hispanic adults also report higher rates of betting, at 30% and 27% respectively.

Online betting shows an even sharper divide: 17% of adults under 30 say they placed an online wager last year, and among Black adults that number rises to 19%, nearly double the 2022 share.

More than 38 states and the District of Columbia allow commercial sports betting in some form, and lawmakers continue to push new legislation. As betting becomes more normalized, public health experts stress that guardrails, education, and early intervention will be critical moving forward.

The debate over sports betting now sits at the intersection of personal finance, public health, and cultural norms — and as the industry expands, so do the risks.