Sports betting boom raises mental health issues

Which has also been posted as March MaDNESS started last week, we talked to mental health experts about the problem of gambling, especially for young men. NOW, ABC NEWS Investigative Unit looks at how the evolution of ONLINE gambling and sports betting has triggered a potential public health crisis. Joining us live is ABC News chief investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky. IT’S GOOD TO SEE AARON. GOOD TO SEE TOO MUCH. JESSICA Think about filling out your March madness bracket. You have to wait for the whole tournament to find out who won. NOW, ADVENT OF PARLAY bets and Micro betting makes the action faster, and scientists say potentially more addictive, especially for young people who are susceptible to all types of quick fix betting. Now you can bet on every pitch, every FREE throw, every Putt and all the repetitive instant gratification, said scientists, taking a toll on youth. So, you know, as part of your report, you speak with young people in recovery. What science tells us about gambling addiction? Yeah, it comes quickly and can come at an early age. Scientists told us about watching children 13 develop gambling addiction. And we talked to a young man, for example, he was in Philadelphia, he said he spends hours and hours every day placing bets. AND THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE. You think about every time a team exchanges a basket from one end of the court to another, the odds change and you can place a bet every time. And according to research, it’s instant, not just placing a bet, but not knowing what will happen. It IS, IT IS ON. THAT’S DRIVE, AND IT’S HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN NOW. YEAH. You know, I know you also see how the situation has come to rely on the income generated by online gambling companies. What are your examiners looking for there? This is a multibillion dollar business, a billion dollars more in 2025 than I did the previous year. AND YOU call income. CRITICISM all this will say that others are lost. THAT’S A BET. THAT’S WHAT THE STATE BUDGET CONTAINS. And then they want to see all the REFRAMED, but they will also, in an ideal world, want to see these PARLAY batches and MICRO batches go. That’s what the experts said is POTENTIAL FUEL addiction, but it generates a lot of income. SO Nothing is happening quickly either at the state or federal level. Although in some places, MASSACHUSETTS included, there are at least some legislators who seem to add additional protections and make things safer for young people, especially those who need to be careful.