Legal Sports Betting Rise Linked to More Mental Health Meds

The study examined how legalizing online sports betting changed health care use. In 2018 only one state allowed such betting. By the end of 2023 the number had jumped to 31. More people now have easy access to gambling. Researchers wanted to see if this spread increased treatment for mental health or substance use.

The researchers used a stepped difference-in-differences design. They pulled claims from January 2016 through December 2023. The data covered a large national sample of workers with employer health plans. Participants were men and women aged 18 to 64. The analysis focused on states that passed online betting laws between 2018 and 2022, plus states that had not legalized it by the study’s end.

After accounting for other factors, legalization was linked to higher medication use. Men saw a rise of about 0.6 percentage points in antidepressant prescriptions. Women saw a larger jump of roughly 1.1 percentage points. Anxiety drug fills also increased. Men added about 0.3 points, while women added about 0.6 points. Substance use disorder medication fills rose as well. Men gained around 0.2 points, women around 0.5 points. The same trend appeared in health care visits. More outpatient, emergency, or inpatient appointments were recorded for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.

The rise in prescriptions and clinic visits points to a hidden cost of easier betting access. Lawmakers should think about adding more mental health resources. The data shows that gambling expansion can strain existing care systems. Early action could help keep health services from getting overwhelmed.

Researchers still need to know which groups face the biggest risk. More studies could track long‑term trends after full legalization. Understanding the impact will help shape smarter regulations. Continued monitoring will be key as other states consider similar moves.