The Kennedy Forum is deeply concerned about online gambling in the U.S.
It isn’t just that more people are increasingly placing bets and to a greater degree, emerging technology platforms make gambling easy and constant, particularly through prediction markets.
Since the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision that opened the door for states to offer sports betting, Americans have legally wagered $220 billion, showing how quickly our culture has become intertwined with betting — and not just on sports. Now, people can bet on virtually anything, from sporting games to awards shows to geopolitical outcomes.
The downsides are devastating. Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that legalized sports betting is linked to higher credit card debt, more overdrafts, and lower credit scores. And the impact doesn’t stop with the individual — experts estimate that each person with a gambling problem affects six to eight others, turning it into a broader family and public health issue, as noted by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
This issue coincides with a litany of broader patterns of compulsive use and harm — from technology to substances to social media.
Addiction can show up as patterns of compulsion, like a loss of control, continued behavior despite harm, and significant impacts on health, relationships, and financial stability.
Whether the driver is a chemical or a digital interface, the need for prevention, accountability, and access to care remains.
The Kennedy Forum has perceived this shift and understands that language shapes how we define problems — and how we respond to them.
In our public-facing communications and advocacy materials, we are expanding our language to center ‘addiction’ alongside ‘substance use disorder,’ reflecting the full range of conditions people experience.
This change reflects the reality of today’s public health landscape, in which substance use disorder is one of many behaviors that might fall under the larger umbrella of addiction.
This shift also reinforces our commitment to mental health parity. Behavioral addictions have often been under-recognized and under-covered in policy and insurance frameworks. Centering “addiction” strengthens the case that multiple conditions warrant the same protections, research investment, and access to treatment as other mental health conditions. We have a history of taking stands to ensure safety on social media platforms, fighting the rise of online gambling, and other forms of addiction for profit.
We approach this shift with care. We are not collapsing all behaviors into one category. We are recognizing that compulsive, harmful behaviors — substance-related or not — deserve serious attention and evidence-based responses.
As the landscape evolves, our language must evolve with it. By shifting from “substance use” to “addiction,” we are reflecting a more complete picture of harm in the 21st century, while honoring the complexity within it.
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