Do gambling ads contribute to addiction, searches for help?
A University of Colorado Boulder study links gambling advertising to increased betting and more searches for addiction help.Summary
A new University of Colorado Boulder study published in Policy & Internet links gambling advertising to increased gambling activity and more searches for problem gambling help. Researchers analyzed advertising and search data across 41 states and surveyed 419 users, finding that exposure to gambling ads on Facebook, TikTok, and X was associated with whether, how frequently, and where people gambled. Some users received 50, 100, or more gambling ads per week. In states with higher betting ad spending, problem-gambling help searches rose, but whether sports betting was legal was not linked to more help searches. The study also found that after 24 hours without gambling activity, 8.3 percent of users who saw an ad gambled within 24 hours. Researcher Chris Vargo suggests limits on ad volume, rules for free bets, stronger platform oversight, and connecting people to addiction resources. The findings are correlational and do not prove causation.
(Source：Salt Lake City Deseret News)