Increased Sports Betting Engagement and Problem Gambling Incidences Identified in Massachusetts, According to Research
The state of problem gambling and related harms in Massachusetts' legal sports betting market has significantly worsened since the launch of legalized sports betting in early 2023.
According to research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst's SEIGMA project, the proportion of monthly gamblers experiencing gambling problems rose sharply from 20.9% in 2022 (before legalization) to 28% by fall 2024. Similarly, financial problems linked to gambling among these gamblers increased from 18% in 2022 to 25% in 2024, while relationship and family harms nearly doubled over the same period[1][2][3][4].
Participation in sports betting itself has also increased markedly. The percentage of Massachusetts adults engaging in sports betting rose from 16.7% in March 2023 (pre-legalization) to 32.6% in 2024, with weekly and monthly sports betting rising as well. Legal sportsbooks became the dominant venue, with illegal and social sports betting declining[3][5].
In addition, there has been a notable shift in public attitudes and perceptions about gambling. More residents began to believe that the harms of gambling outweigh its benefits (rising from 48% to 56%), and skepticism about the expansion of gambling grew. Support for broad legalization dropped from 37% to 30%, while concern that gambling is too widely available increased from 23% to 35% between 2022 and fall 2024[5].
These trends illustrate a clear and concerning rise in gambling-related harms, financial stress, and negative social impacts associated with the rapid expansion of legal sports betting in Massachusetts since legalization[1][2][3][5]. The research emphasizes that these changes reflect both increased betting activity and the transition from illegal and social betting to more regulated but riskier legal sports betting platforms[3].
It's worth noting that DraftKings, one of the major players in the Massachusetts sports betting market, was fined due to accepting credit card deposits for sports betting accounts, which is prohibited by Massachusetts law[2]. In response, DraftKings agreed to hire an independent auditor to review transactions from February 2023 to the market's March 2023 launch, and refunded $83,000 to 218 customers as part of a settlement[2].
As the Massachusetts sports betting market continues to evolve, it's crucial for policymakers, industry leaders, and the public to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the potential negative impacts of gambling, ensuring a safe and responsible market for all involved.
[1] SEIGMA. (2023). Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts: Trends in Gambling and Related Harms. Retrieved from https://www.seigma.org/reports/social-and-economic-impacts-of-gambling-in-massachusetts-trends-in-gambling-and-related-harms
[2] Massachusetts Gaming Commission. (2023). DraftKings fined for credit card violations. Retrieved from https://www.massgaming.com/news/draftkings-fined-for-credit-card-violations
[3] Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2023). Shift from illegal to legal sports betting in Massachusetts: Implications for problem gambling and related harms. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/shift-from-illegal-to-legal-sports-betting-in-massachusetts-implications-for-problem-gambling-and-related-harms/
[4] UMass Amherst News Office. (2023). New study finds problem gambling and related harms on the rise in Massachusetts since legalization of sports betting. Retrieved from https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/new-study-finds-problem-gambling-and-related-harms-rise-massachusetts-since-legalization
[5] WBUR. (2024). Massachusetts residents growing skeptical about gambling expansion, new poll shows. Retrieved from https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/04/20/massachusetts-gambling-poll-2024
Sports betting participation has significantly increased in Massachusetts, with the percentage of adults engaging in sports betting rising from 16.7% in March 2023 to 32.6% in 2024. Despite this growth, sports-betting activities in the state have been linked to a clear and concerning rise in gambling-related harms, financial stress, and negative social impacts.
