Betting may be more dangerous than fentanyl, expert says

• One health expert warned about the dangers of mobile sports betting
• Mobile betting suicide cases are higher when compared to drug-related cases; thus, the activity is more dangerous than drug paraphernalia
• Young adults are vulnerable, as the use of mobile betting apps can push them into addiction

The expansion of sports betting across the United States since the Supreme Court's decision to strike down PASPA in 2018 has been exponential.

The industry, estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars, created new opportunities for bookmakers and sports leagues alike.

However, concerns about the impact of legal betting on sports and recorded increases in addiction rates sounded the alarm.

Betting-related suicide cases are higher when compared to drug-related suicides

Looking into the potential harm that may come from mobile sports betting, one expert deemed the activity more dangerous than the infamous drug, fentanyl.

Dr. Christina Waite, who is a medical director in psychiatry at Miami Valley Hospital, was recently interviewed by the news outlet, 2 NEWS, and highlighted the dangers of online sports betting.

She explained that suicide cases related to mobile sports betting are higher when compared to suicide cases tied to the use of substances.

Concerningly, Dr. Waite said: "So, it’s more harmful and more dangerous than using fentanyl. If you’re looking from that standpoint."

Focusing on the impact of online sports betting on consumers, the expert said that the use of mobile apps is the easiest way to form habits.

However, Dr. Waite warned that the use of mobile apps can increase the rate of addiction and even lead to more serious conditions and behaviors, considering that they offer privacy.

The most vulnerable are young adults

Across the country, there are different requirements for the minimum legal age for gambling activities such as lottery, casino or online sports betting.

Generally, those requirements vary from one state to another.

Still, according to Dr. Waite, young adults are significantly more vulnerable to addiction because "their brain is not fully developed until about age 25 or even later for some males."

Besides a mental impact, excessive mobile sports betting can even change the chemistry as well as structure of a person's brain, the expert warned.

This is because winning triggers an emotion that results in a surge of dopamine, Dr. Waite explained.

The problem is that excessively doing the same thing results in the brain getting used to the dopamine hit, which is why some bettors want to bet more: extra bets, higher sums and more frequently.

The industry has long repeated the mantra that sports betting happens anyway, and its regulation helps generate taxes that fund different programs in states where the activity is available.

However, across the country, and especially in states where mobile betting is available, an increase in the number of calls to helplines and searches for gambling addiction help is observed.

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