Goldman, Moore Introduce Legislation to Launch Federal Investigation into Impact of Widespread Sports Betting
Over Half Of Men Ages 18-49 Have An Active Account With An Online Sportsbook
2-3% Of The Population Meets One Or More Of The Criteria For Gambling Disorder
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Blake Moore (UT-01) introduced the bipartisan Gambling Disorder Health Study Act, new legislation that would direct the federal government to conduct a comprehensive, multi-year investigation into the causes, development, and long-term effects of gambling disorder and to evaluate prevention, treatment, and intervention strategies. Despite a skyrocketing percentage of Americans engaging in online gambling following the overturn of the federal ban on sports betting, no federal agency is currently designated or funded to lead national research in this area. This legislation would appropriate 10% of the federal excise tax revenue on state-authorized wagers to fund this study for up to three fiscal years.
“Gambling addiction is a growing public health crisis, especially for young men, and the federal government needs to start treating it as such,” said Rep. Goldman. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense first step to help us understand the full implications of the apps and sites that have made gambling readily accessible 24/7; to identify those most at risk of addiction; and to develop strategies to intervene and treat them, just as we do with other forms of addiction. Congress must take a more active role in fighting gambling addiction and pass this bill.”
“We are in a new age of gambling addiction as sports betting and prediction markets have proliferated into every aspect of life. Lawmakers and all Americans need to take a deeper look into the causes and effects of gambling addiction so we can best craft real solutions. This bill will go a long way in helping us address this crisis," said Rep. Moore.
"As online gambling surges, permeating the lives of Americans, we are increasingly concerned about how this experiment will unfold for those who will inevitably develop dependencies that can hurt families, weaken relationships, harm finances, and destroy mental health. The Kennedy Forum supports this bill so we can better understand the scope and scale of the issue and help curb the emerging wave of addictions for profit that rely on shame, isolation, and silence to proliferate in our culture,” said Lauren Finke, Senior Director of Policy at The Kennedy Forum.
Gambling addiction has become a significant public health concern in the United States, exacerbated by the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting following the Supreme Court’s decision in Murphy v. NCAA (2018), which overturned the federal ban on sports betting. By 2024, sports betting expanded from one operational state in 2017 to 39 operational states in addition to Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico as of 2025. Correspondingly, total sports wagers increased from $4.7 billion in 2017 to approximately $220 billion wagered annually between traditional sports betting platforms and prediction markets.
Today, 27% of Americans and over half of men between the ages 18-49 claim to have an active account with an online sportsbook. Moreover, 33% of men aged 18-49 have claimed to have used an online event-based prediction market to place a bet on a sports event. This growing prevalence of gambling creates concern regarding addiction and its broader mental health impacts. National data indicates that internet searches for gambling addiction help-seeking have increased 23 percent since Murphy v. NCAA and approximately 2-3% of the national population meet one or more of the criteria for gambling disorder and experience problems due to their gambling behavior.
Despite these trends, gambling addiction has not received the same level of federal attention as other addictions. Gambling disorders are classified as behavioral addictions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, no federal agency is currently designated or funded to lead national research in this area, even though the federal government collects revenue from gambling activity through an excise tax. This lack of federal attention is particularly concerning given the widespread exposure and access to gambling.
The Gambling Disorder Health Study Act would:
Direct a federal study into the causes, development, associated demographics, and long-term effects of gambling disorder and gambling-related harm and evaluate prevention, treatment, and intervention strategies. Such study would analyze the contributing factors to and policy implications of gambling disorder, including but not limited to sports betting legalization, media exposure, and other social dynamics.
Require the HHS Secretary to provide annual reporting to Congress on the study’s progress and provide policy recommendations to Congress.
Appropriate 10% of the federal excise tax revenue on state-authorized wagers to fund this study for up to three fiscal years.
This legislation is endorsed by The Kennedy Forum, Foundation on Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS), New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG), American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), Stop Problem Gambling, Texans Against Gambling, and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
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