Explosion of Sports Gambling: The 2018 Supreme Court ruling has led to the legalization of sports betting in 38 states, greatly increasing visibility and participation.
Impact on Athletes: Athletes face increased harassment from angry bettors, with prominent figures like Kevin Durant highlighting the negative shift in fan engagement.
Concerns Over Addiction: Experts argue that legalized gambling mimics other addictive substances, with a high potential for serious personal and societal harm.
Financial Ramifications: Studies indicate that most bettors lose money and that the impacts disproportionately affect economically vulnerable populations.
Questioning the Benefits: Legalized sports gambling has not provided the promised revenue, or reduced illegal betting, raising concerns about its overall utility.