Reports Highlight Sports Betting Addiction Problems Among Young Men

Nearly half of U.S. men under the age of 50 now have an online sports betting account, leading to widespread concern about increases in gambling addiction.

As FanDual, DraftKings and other popular sportsbook platforms continue to face a growing number of lawsuits, alleging that the companies have engaged in predatory marketing tactics over the past few years, several recent media reports highlight the widespread impact that sports betting addictions are having on young men, who are often left without adequate support or treatment options in many communities.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for legalized sports betting in 2018, online sportsbooks have been authorized to operate in 39 states and Washington, D.C., rapidly expanding access to betting apps like DraftKings and FanDuel.

However, public health experts warn that the rapid growth of gambling access has outpaced public awareness and regulatory oversight, as well as resources available for young men suffering from sports betting addictions.  

A report published last week in The Atlantic highlights how there remains no centralized effort in the U.S. to track or quantify the prevalence of online gambling addiction, even as Americans wagered an estimated $150 billion on sports bets last year.

As a result of aggressive marketing strategies, which often targeted young men and individuals with problem gambling patterns, a number of families are now pursuing sports betting addiction lawsuits indicating that they lost thousands on apps like DraftKings and FanDuel. Plaintiffs allege they were pushed to place high-frequency bets after being identified by platform algorithms as vulnerable users, effectively targeted and exploited to fuel consistent profits for the companies.

Now, media attention into the problem is growing, with USA Today publishing a report on June 3 that is similar to the one in The Atlantic.

Both reports highlight that young men in the U.S. are the primary targets of sports betting marketing, and the ones bearing the brunt of gambling addiction linked to mobile betting apps. They warn that platforms are deliberately designed to entice this demographic into compulsive gambling behaviors.

The Atlantic notes that gambling commercials are now more common during NFL games than ads for beer, and that the commentators for the games often add the sports betting site point spreads in their commentary. In addition, many have found ways to bypass state gambling restrictions.

DraftKings was recently hit with a class action lawsuit in California, accusing the company of illegally operating in that state through its “Daily Fantasy Sports” contests. California has a ban on sports betting, but the lawsuit claims that DraftKings is illegally circumventing that ban through its Daily Fantasy Sports and Pick6 games. Running any such games is considered a misdemeanor under state law, plaintiffs claim.

The Atlantic story points out that it is not hard to gamble online in any state, regardless of whether it is legal there or not, something the sports betting companies appear to take full advantage of. Experts raise concerns about the potential long-term financial and mental health impacts on the country as the sites become more popular and legal in additional states.

However, observers note that there are very few resources to help those with online gambling addictions, and not even good estimates about how widespread the problem has become. In addition, many do not realize they have a problem, or believe they face severe social stigma by admitting they have a gambling problem and seeking proper treatment.

Sports Betting Site Lawsuits

Amid the growing evidence linking sports betting platforms to rising rates of addiction and financial harm, lawyers are now reviewing sports betting addiction lawsuits for individuals between the ages of 18 and 25, who developed gambling addictions and lost $10,000 or more after using sports betting apps like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Caesars. 

These claims focus on college age users who were encouraged to place high-frequency bets, even after showing signs of addiction. Some continued to receive personalized incentives and marketing offers after requesting account closures or appearing on self-exclusion lists, raising serious concerns about how platforms exploit vulnerable behavior.

If you or someone you love suffered financial harm from compulsive gambling on these apps, sports gambling addiction lawyers can help you pursue a lawsuit to recover losses and hold companies accountable for their addictive design and predatory targeting practices.