Expert: US gambling addiction 'out of control' as betting booms
scienceApr 24, 2026714
A policy expert told The Guardian that US gambling addiction is 'out of control' as betting markets boom, and urged a public-health response with regulation like alcohol or tobacco. The expert said 'It's the product that’s the problem, not the people' and called for tighter guardrails on betting products, advertising and access. Campaigners point to the rapid rise of online sports betting and prediction markets as driving financial harms, including bankruptcies among young bettors. Treating gambling as an addictive product matters because looser rules could expand addiction, deepen financial distress, and increase demand on health and legal services.
