The news: Online sports betting is a public health concern, according to a recent JAMA Health Forum article from Johns Hopkins health researchers.

Drawing on prior research, the authors argued that online sports gambling is linked to:

• Serious health conditions: Such as higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
• Alcohol misuse: A roughly 10% to 20% increase in binge drinking among young men.
• Broader socioeconomic issues: Including financial hardship, strained family relationships, and time costs.

Why it matters: Gambling has long posed health risks, but the rapid growth of online sports betting is amplifying those concerns through its ubiquity and high-frequency nature. We forecast that roughly 20% of US adults will place a legal online sports bet in 2026, up about 10% year over year and nearly double the share from four years earlier. Meanwhile, US online sportsbooks will handle about $194 billion in wagers this year, an increase of roughly 11% YoY, per our estimates.