Sports betting, now legal in most states, is ensnaring more young men every day.
As ads for FanDuel, DraftKings, and their competitors bombard the nation’s airwaves, frantic calls to gambling addiction hotlines continue to rise – and counselors say young men and their family members account for a majority of those calls.
Studies show that people diagnosed with gambling disorder who also demonstrate symptoms of ADHD are more likely to experience that addiction with greater severity.1, 2
“It’s ubiquitous,” says Tamara Rosier, Ph.D., past president of the ADHD Coaches Organization. “You can gamble on your phone. The ads are all over Instagram. It’s everywhere and it takes effort to get away from it. And when you combine the instant dopamine rush with sports, it’s different. There’s something about sports that make people feel like Gladiators.”
Easy access to sports betting sites and apps is inviting severe personal and financial consequences. In Ohio, calls into helplines have risen more than 300 percent in recent years, mainly from men aged 18 to 32.
Stephen Wu, Ph.D., a researcher at Hamilton College in New York, measured the mental wellbeing among different demographics in states before and after gambling was legalized. “When you look at adult males in their early 30s, you see that the legalization of gambling is related to worse mental health,” he told NPR.
Todd Love, Psy.D., a licensed professional counselor, recommends these steps if you feel trapped in a behavioral addiction that is interfering with your life:
Treat your ADHD, as treatment stabilizes dopamine signaling and supports recovery.
Create no-tech zones to begin to break behavioral patterns (e.g., disable notifications, turn off WiFi after a certain time).
Join a 12-step program like Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous
Feed your ADHD brain through movement, learning, creativity, and other healthy ways. Prioritize routines around exercise, sleep, and nutrition.
Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET for assistance and resources.
Gambling and Sports Betting Addiction: Resources
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1Fatseas, M., Alexandre, J., Venisse, J., Romo, L., Valleur, M., Magalon, D., Chéreau-Boudet, I., Luquiens, A., Guilleux, A., Jeu, G., Challet-Bouju, G., & Grall-Bronnec, M. (2016). Gambling behaviors and psychopathology related to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in problem and non-problem adult gamblers.. Psychiatry research, 239, 232-8 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.03.028.
2Breyer, J. L., Botzet, A. M., Winters, K. C., Stinchfield, R. D., August, G., & Realmuto, G. (2009). Young adult gambling behaviors and their relationship with the persistence of ADHD. Journal of gambling studies, 25(2), 227–238. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-009-9126-z