INDIANA – A new report reveals that gambling addiction risk has reached an all-time high in the U.S., driven primarily by nonstop access to betting apps, heavy promotional advertising, and mounting financial pressures.
According to an analysis by AddictionResource.net, modern gambling platforms are intentionally designed to keep users engaged longer, dramatically raising addiction risks even for casual players.
The report links this spike to a broader rise in behavioral addictions, noting that gambling is one of the fastest-rising non-substance addictions, alongside gaming and social media overuse. Experts warn these behaviors activate the same reward pathways in the brain as drugs and alcohol, leading to rapid escalation and severe financial and emotional consequences.
Julie Morrow, Chief Clinical Strategist at AddictionResource.net, emphasized that modern betting is fundamentally different from traditional gambling.
“Gambling today isn’t the occasional casino trip people imagine; it’s a high-speed, high-dopamine system that follows you everywhere on your phone. We’re seeing more people slip into addiction… because the platforms are engineered to remove natural stopping points,” Morrow said.
She added that once a person starts chasing losses or using bets for stress relief, the brain reacts similarly to substance dependence.
What Families Need to Watch For
Morrow stressed that early intervention is critical. The organization advises families to watch for signs like:
- Irritability or secrecy regarding phone use.
- Disappearing money or constantly checking betting apps.
- Loss of interest in routines or relationships.
Families can implement preventive measures by setting digital boundaries (e.g., turning off notifications and using app blockers), maintaining financial transparency, and encouraging alternative coping strategies for stress or boredom. Morrow concluded that the real danger lies not in how much a person gambles, but in how hard it is for them to stop.
