The rise of sports betting is a growing public health crisis – statnews.com

Report on the Public Health and Sustainable Development Implications of the Expanded U.S. Sports Betting Market

Introduction: Market Expansion and Emerging Public Health Concerns

Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision striking down the federal ban on sports betting, the U.S. market has experienced exponential growth. Annual wagers have surged from under $5 billion to $150 billion in 2023. This expansion, driven by mobile technology, has precipitated an emerging public health crisis that directly threatens the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly among young men.

Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The Rise of Hazardous Gambling

The proliferation of sports betting applications has created a new paradigm of gambling that poses a significant risk to public health, undermining the core principles of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• Accessibility and Immediacy: 90% of bets are now placed via mobile phones, with over half being “live bets” made during games. This constant accessibility removes traditional barriers to gambling.
• Hazardous Gambling Patterns: A significant portion of individuals engage in “hazardous gambling”—patterns of behavior that increase the risk of harmful physical or mental health consequences without meeting the clinical criteria for pathological gambling.
• Target 3.4 – Mental Health: Hazardous gambling is strongly correlated with increased rates of anxiety and depression, directly impeding progress toward promoting mental health and well-being.
• Target 3.5 – Substance Abuse: Studies show that young men engaged in frequent gambling are more likely to consume more alcohol and participate in other risky behaviors, creating challenges for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

A Case Study in Mental Health Impact

The experience of a 20-year-old college student, “Danny,” illustrates the mental health toll. He describes an obsession with checking odds, mood swings dependent on betting outcomes, and an inability to concentrate on academics or social activities. These symptoms—obsession, mood swings, and intrusive thoughts—are indicative of the widespread mental health challenges emerging from this industry, which are a direct concern for SDG 3.

Socio-Economic Consequences and Their Relation to SDGs 4, 8, and 10

Undermining SDG 4: Quality Education

The pervasive nature of sports betting among young men has tangible negative effects on their educational attainment, conflicting with the objectives of SDG 4.

• Academic Performance: Research indicates that boys who gamble frequently miss more classes and achieve lower academic performance.
• Personal Development: The time and mental energy consumed by gambling detract from activities crucial for personal growth, such as building relationships and pursuing hobbies, which are foundational to a holistic educational experience.

Threats to SDG 8 (Decent Work) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The industry’s focus on a specific demographic exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and inequalities, running counter to the goals of promoting inclusive economic growth and reducing inequality.

• Target Demographic: Young men are identified as the primary target demographic due to biological predispositions to risk-taking, economic anxiety, social isolation, and a culture of being “groomed” to gamble through systems in video games.
• Economic Instability: While the industry generates revenue, it can lead to financial instability and debt for individuals, undermining their ability to achieve economic security and contribute to decent work and economic growth as outlined in SDG 8.
• Exacerbating Inequality: By systematically targeting and exploiting the vulnerabilities of a specific group (young men), the industry’s practices contribute to widening inequalities, in direct opposition to the aims of SDG 10.

Industry Practices and the Need for Stronger Institutions (SDG 16)

Marketing and Technological Exploitation

The gambling industry employs sophisticated marketing and technology that normalizes and encourages high-risk behavior, highlighting a critical need for stronger regulatory institutions as called for in SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• Aggressive Marketing: Advertising campaigns and influencer partnerships rebrand obsession and social isolation as dedication and entertainment.
• Behavioral Targeting: Companies utilize advanced behavioral targeting to identify vulnerable users and deploy promotions to maintain engagement, combining addiction science with smartphone technology.
• Normalization: The integration of betting into sports media broadcasts makes it impossible to consume content without being encouraged to gamble, creating an environment where problematic behavior is presented as normal.

Regulatory Gaps and the Path Forward

The United States lags behind other nations in regulating the industry to protect public health, indicating a weakness in institutional oversight.

1. International Precedents: Other countries have implemented protective measures, such as the UK’s crackdown on predatory VIP programs and Belgium’s ban on “loot boxes” in video games.
2. Lack of U.S. Action: In contrast, the U.S. has largely failed to implement a regulatory framework that addresses the public health crisis, prioritizing commercial interests over citizen well-being.
3. Call for Stronger Institutions: Aligning with SDG 16, there is an urgent need for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions to establish regulations that mitigate the harms associated with the mobile sports betting industry.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article frames the rise in sports betting as a “public health crisis.” It extensively discusses the negative health consequences, including mental health issues like obsession, mood swings, anxiety, and depression. It also covers “hazardous gambling” and full-blown addiction, which directly relate to promoting well-being and addressing health challenges.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The article establishes a direct link between gambling and poor educational outcomes. It states that “Boys who frequently gamble miss more classes, perform worse in school,” indicating that this issue is a barrier to achieving a quality education.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article highlights that the gambling industry specifically targets a vulnerable demographic: young men. It notes they are “the perfect targets” due to biological, economic, and social factors. This targeted exploitation of a specific group, leading to disproportionate harm, is an issue of inequality.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article points to a failure of governance and regulation in the United States. It contrasts the American situation, where advertising is rampant and lobbying is powerful, with other countries like Britain and Belgium that have implemented stricter controls. This highlights a need for more effective institutions to protect public health from industry harms.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

   • The article’s focus on gambling’s correlation with “increased rates of anxiety and depression” and the description of hazardous gambling causing “harmful physical or mental health consequences” directly aligns with the goal of promoting mental health and well-being.

2. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

   • Gambling addiction is a behavioral addiction that falls under the umbrella of prevention and treatment efforts. The article also explicitly states that young men who gamble “drink more alcohol,” connecting the issue to the harmful use of alcohol mentioned in this target.

3. Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education…

   • The article’s finding that frequent gambling leads to missing more classes and performing worse in school directly impacts the quality and completion of education, which is the core of this target.

4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex…

   • The article describes how the gambling industry targets and exploits the specific vulnerabilities of young men (“Anybody under twenty-five they have their eye on”). This practice leads to their social isolation (“buried in their phones… while life passes them by”) and economic harm, which is the antithesis of empowerment and inclusion.

5. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

   • The article implies a lack of effective institutional oversight in the U.S. by stating, “America is still pretending gambling is all freedom and entertainment while a generation gets hooked.” It contrasts this with actions in other countries, suggesting a need for more accountable institutions to regulate the industry.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Prevalence of hazardous gambling and addiction

   • The article identifies “hazardous gambling” as a widespread problem affecting millions and distinguishes it from “full-blown addictions.” Tracking the prevalence of both conditions, particularly among young men, would be a direct indicator of progress under SDG 3.

2. Rates of co-occurring mental health conditions and risky behaviors

   • The article states that hazardous gambling is “correlated with increased rates of anxiety and depression” and that those who gamble “drink more alcohol, and participate in other risky behaviors.” Measuring the incidence of these issues within the gambling population serves as an indicator for Target 3.4 and 3.5.

3. Educational attainment and attendance statistics

   • The claims that boys who gamble “miss more classes” and “perform worse in school” suggest that school attendance records and academic performance data (e.g., GPA, standardized test scores) for this demographic can be used as indicators to measure the educational impact (Target 4.1).

4. Data on gambling industry marketing and consumer demographics

   • The article describes how the industry targets young men with ads and influencers. An indicator for Target 10.2 would be the analysis of advertising spending directed at this demographic and data on the age and gender of high-frequency bettors. The article mentions a study finding that “60% of bettors accounted for just 1% of sportsbook revenue,” indicating that data on user behavior is available.

5. Existence and enforcement of gambling regulations

   • The article mentions that other countries have “cracked down on predatory VIP programs,” banned certain promotions, and restricted advertising. The number and scope of such consumer protection regulations implemented in the U.S. would be a clear indicator of institutional effectiveness under Target 16.6.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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