Google searches related to gambling addiction help increased by 23% in the US after the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that opened the way for states to legalise sports betting, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Researchers analysed Google search data from January 2016 through June 2024, focusing on terms related to gambling addiction, help, hotlines and attempts to address gambling problems. They estimated that around 6.5 million to 7.3 million gambling addiction help-seeking searches were made nationally during the post-ruling period.
Several states recorded even larger increases after sportsbooks launched. Searches rose by 30% in Virginia, 34% in New Jersey, 35% in Illinois, 37% in Michigan and New York, 47% in Massachusetts, 50% in Pennsylvania and 67% in Ohio.
The researchers caution that the figures do not mean gambling addiction itself increased by the same percentages. Search behaviour reflects interest in the issue and attempts to find information or support, which can come from people with different levels of gambling involvement.
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine
