Online gambling has been growing around the country as more states legalize, leading to concerns about its impact on consumers’ financial and mental health.
Online gambling is generally regarded as more addictive than in-person betting. Online gaming became legal in Massachusetts in 2023 and a recent study shows that people in Massachusetts who gamble regularly are gambling more and having more problems because of it.
Researchers surveyed people who gamble monthly or more often. They found that:
More people are having problems with gambling: The number of people who said they were experiencing harm from gambling has gone up each year.
People are gambling on more things: More people are playing the lottery, betting on sports, and gambling online.
People are worried about gambling: More people are starting to think that gambling is harmful and that it can be addictive.
