LOSING –
June 19, 2026 – With World Cup games in full swing, addiction specialists in Ohio are raising concerns about the growth of sports betting and its impact on problem gambling. Calls to the Ohio Problem Gambling Hotline are up 50% since sports betting was legalized. One of his main concerns is that young people … often young men in their teens or early 20s, are being targeted by betting companies.
“We know that the prefrontal cortex, this rational logical part of our brain … is not fully developed until we’re about 25 or 26. But a lot of focus of gambling is towards young people, 18 to 24,” Tuell said.
Sports betting has become a major industry nationwide. The American Gaming Association reported U.S. revenue last year came in at nearly $17 billion, up more than 20% from 2024.
