Jonathan D. Cohen, "Losing Big: America's Dangerous Sports Gambling Boom" (Columbia Global Reports, 2025)
Apr 20, 2025
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Jonathan D. Cohen, historian and author of "Losing Big: America's Dangerous Sports Gambling Boom," discusses the explosive rise of sports gambling in America. He explores the aftermath of the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that legalized betting, revealing how lobbying has prioritized profit over player safety. Cohen shares harrowing personal stories of gambling addiction and emphasizes its impact on young men and college athletes. With companies like FanDuel and DraftKings exploiting psychological triggers, the conversation raises urgent questions about regulation and public health.
The 2018 Supreme Court ruling redefined sports gambling legality, allowing nearly forty states to capitalize on newly available betting opportunities.
The rapid legalization of sports betting has led to increasing gambling addiction problems, especially among young men, due to inadequate player protections.
The involvement of sports gambling companies in legislative processes raises ethical concerns about prioritizing industry profits over consumer safety and welfare.
Deep dives
The Impact of the Murphy Decision
The Supreme Court's 2018 Murphy decision significantly changed the landscape of sports gambling in the U.S. by ruling that states have the right to legalize the practice under the 10th Amendment. Prior to this ruling, the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, which restricted sports betting primarily to Nevada, stifled any state-level legalization efforts. This decision ignited a cultural shift, aligning with a growing public interest in sports gambling, particularly through avenues like fantasy sports, which blurred the lines between gambling and recreational activities. As states began to rush to legalize and capitalize on this newfound opportunity, the rapid changes raised concerns about the oversight and regulation of gambling practices.
Risks Associated with Reckless Legalization
The swift legalization of sports gambling post-Murphy has been characterized as reckless, lacking essential safeguards for players and consumers. This rapid rollout has coincided with alarming trends in gambling addiction and financial instability among individuals drawn into sports betting. States often prioritized potential tax revenue over the implementation of protections, leading to increased reports of gambling-related issues, including addiction and debt. The absence of adequate initial analyses on the social impact has resulted in a landscape where many individuals, especially young men, find themselves ensnared in problematic gambling behavior.
Adverse Consequences of Industry Influence
The influence of sports betting companies on policy-making has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding their role in crafting gambling legislation. Major companies like DraftKings and FanDuel have been reported as directly involved in the legislative process, sometimes leading to laws that prioritize industry profits over public safety. This dynamic highlights a fundamental conflict of interest, as the very organizations benefitting from gambling revenue are also given a seat at the table when regulations are formulated. As a result, the protective measures intended to safeguard consumers have often been undermined, leading to predatory practices within the industry.
The Need for Regulatory Safeguards
In light of the rising issues associated with legalized sports gambling, there is a pressing need for comprehensive regulatory safeguards. Proposals have been made to implement measures such as mandatory waiting periods for bets after making deposits to encourage responsible gambling behavior. Additional strategies include enhancing the ease of fund withdrawal to discourage excessive spending and limiting aggressive advertising tactics that normalize gambling as a primary entertainment avenue. A holistic approach that combines industry regulation with public education about the risks of gambling addiction is essential to mitigate the harm caused by this rapidly expanding market.
The Role of Education and Awareness
Education emerges as a crucial factor in addressing the challenges posed by the expansion of sports gambling. Awareness campaigns aimed at both potential gamblers and their families can help illuminate the risks associated with gambling addiction. Engaging parents in conversations about gambling is vital, as many young individuals may lack a clear understanding of the potential consequences. By fostering open dialogues and providing access to resources, communities can better equip themselves to recognize warning signs and encourage responsible gambling practices, ultimately leading to healthier attitudes towards sports betting.
In 2018, the United States Supreme Court opened the floodgates for states to legalize betting on sports. Eager for revenue, almost forty states have done so. The result is the explosive growth of an industry dominated by companies like FanDuel and DraftKings. One out of every five American adults gambled on sports in 2023, amounting to $121 billion, more than they spent on movies and video games combined.
The rise of online sports gambling—the immediacy of betting with your phone, the ability of the companies to target users, the dynamic pricing and offers based on how good or bad of a gambler you are—has produced a public health crisis marked by addiction and far too many people, particularly young men, gambling more than they can afford to lose. Under intense lobbying from the gaming industry, states have created a system built around profit for sportsbooks, not the well-being of players.
In Losing Big: America's Dangerous Sports Gambling Boom (Columbia Global Reports, 2025), historian Jonathan D. Cohen lays out the astonishing emergence of online sports gambling, from sportsbook executives drafting legislation to an addicted gambler confessing their $300,000 losses. Sports gambling is here to stay, and the stakes could not be higher. Losing Big explains how this brewing crisis came to be, and how it can be addressed before new generations get hooked.
Paul Knepper covered the New York Knicks for Bleacher Report. His first book was The Knicks of the Nineties: Ewing, Oakley, Starks and the Brawlers That Almost Won It All. His next book, Moses Malone: The Life of a Basketball Prophet, will be out in the fall of 2025. You can reach Paul at paulknepper@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @paulieknep.
