Is Legal Sports Betting a gateway to more gambling addictions?

We spoke with James Whelan Ph.D., Director of The Institute for Gambling Education and Research and The University of Memphis Gambling Clinic, an outpatient treatment center for those struggling with gambling addiction.
In this interview Dr. Whelan explains why we gamble, why some people become problem gamblers, what is the responsibility of sports leagues now that sports betting is legal is so many states, the argument over whether or not gambling is considered an addiction, and why so few problem gamblers get the help they need.


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00:00 Why do people start gambling
01:10 Why do some people become problem gamblers
02:21 Gambling in the US took a huge jump following Supreme Court decision allowing states to regulate sports gambling
02:49 Easy access to gambling on phones has been scary for some people
02:59 There are reasons to worry harms may increase with easy access to gambling
03:34 What is “responsible gambling?”
04:14 How should we hold professional leagues and universities responsible in offering sports wagering
05:36 can gambling be categorized as an addiction without a substance?
07:12 The nuances of differences between addictions to substances vs gambling addiction
08:38 the stigmatization of gambling, why more people aren’t seeking treatment, and why more treatment isn’t available for people with gambling problems