March 2025 Sports Gambling Madness

March Madness has evolved into a national ritual transcending sports fandom. College hoops dominate headlines each spring, while the tournament highlights normalization of sports gambling, particularly among young adults.

Sports gambling is among the fastest-growing segments of global gambling. The structure of the NCAA's men's basketball championship—March Madness—with numerous games over short periods, unpredictable upsets, and national media hype, makes it conducive to binge-style gambling. What was once an office pool or friendly wager is now a multi-billion-dollar gambling system.

The Elite Eight match-up between the Florida Gators and Texas Tech on March 29, 2025, was an emotional roller coaster for fans, gamblers, and sports bettors. Bettors placing wagers on Florida—particularly those anticipating a comeback—likely experienced dopamine exhilaration as the Gators overcame a seemingly insurmountable deficit. In contrast, fans backing Texas Tech probably experienced despair following the Red Raiders' final-minute collapse.

I was fortunate to have been a UF Distinguished Professor during the Billy Donovan era and watched Florida win back-to-back NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007. Todd Golden took over as head coach in 2022, leading the Gators this year to a spot in the Final Four after a wild, come-from-behind classic in which Walter Clayton Jr. scored 30 points and critical three-pointers in the final minutes. The thrilling nature of the Florida-Texas Tech game exemplifies intense emotional experiences with sports betting. The previous game, another nailbitter against the University of Connecticut, ended with the Florida Gators winning 77-75. But, for gamblers, it was agonizing as a meaningless 3-point shot was made at the final buzzer, which moved the winning bet (the over-under was 150.5) from the under to the over. What a nightmare if you had the under, and what exhilaration if you had the over.

According to a 2023 National Survey on Gambling Behavior, approximately 20% of U.S. adults placed a sports bet in the past year. The number rises sharply among men aged 18 to 34, nearly 35% of whom report sports gambling. Among sports bettors, studies suggest that 6% to 10% meet the criteria for problem gambling, a rate several times higher than that among the general population. Calls to free helplines like 1-800-BETS OFF and 1-800-GAMBLER have been increasing.

The demographic landscape of sports bettors skews young, male, and affluent: More than a third (39%) are under 35, and more than two-thirds (69%) are male.

Approximately 75% of Americans support legal sports wagering in their home state, and 90% view sports betting as acceptable entertainment The rise of the internet and smartphones has fueled this behavioral addiction.

Teen and Young Adult Sports Betting

A 2023 NCAA survey revealed that 58% of 18- to 22-year-olds are involved in at least one sports betting activity. Notably, 67% of students living on campus reported betting, often with high frequency. Additionally, 41% of college student bettors placed wagers on school teams, and 35% used student bookmakers. One meta-analysis indicated that 10% of college students could be classified with a gambling disorder, significantly exceeding the estimated 2%-5% prevalence in the U.S. population.

The Science Behind Gambling Addictions

Marc Potenza, Md, PhD

Source: Yale with permission

Yale psychiatry professor Marc N. Potenza, Ph.D., M.D., is one of the most influential researchers in behavioral addictions, particularly gambling disorders. His work has significantly shaped the understanding of gambling as an addiction, with essential contributions on youth gambling, sports betting, and the neurobiology of addictive behaviors.

Potenza’s neuroimaging studies demonstrated that gambling activates specific brain regions (such as the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex), similar to what happens in substance use disorders. His research is the reason why the DSM-5 recognizes gambling disorder as a behavioral addiction: It shares features with substance use disorders: compulsive engagement, impaired control, tolerance, withdrawal, and significant life impairment. Potenza’s research reveals that people with a gambling disorder show impaired decision-making, heightened impulsiveness, and altered reward processing, similar to those with drug addictions.

Potenza has conducted extensive research underlining early problems with adolescent gambling, showing that youth who gamble are at elevated risk for academic problems, substance use, anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Potenza also introduced gateway concepts in gambling, demonstrating that developing brains are particularly vulnerable to the reinforcing effects of gambling. Consequently, early gambling exposure increases the risk for gambling disorder in adulthood. Online platforms, in-play betting, and social media marketing may promote compulsive gambling behaviors, especially among young males.

Compulsive Behaviors Essential Reads

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Co-Disorders: Substance Abuse and Gambling Disorder

The use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs may significantly affect the development and exacerbation of problematic sports gambling. Co-use is especially common in young males, drawn to both gambling and substances as high-risk, thrill-seeking behaviors—often during major sports events such as March Madness and the Super Bowl. Studies also indicate that individuals engaging in sports betting are more likely to binge drink compared to non-gamblers or those involved in other forms of gambling.

Longitudinal research has identified a strong positive correlation between sports gambling frequency and the development of alcohol use disorders. Individuals who increase sports betting activities over time may face a substantial risk of alcohol-related problems. The interplay between substance use— specifically alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs—and problematic sports gambling is concerning, as both sets of behaviors can exacerbate or feed off the negative impact of each.

Community data suggest that 96% of individuals with gambling disorders have one or more co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Substance use often begins early, especially in adolescence or early college years. Some individuals with gambling problems begin using substances to cope with stress, escape losses, or self-medicate gambling-related depression or anxiety.

Digital Media and Technology

Smartphone apps have revolutionized gambling, especially sports-related. Digital sportsbook platforms such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM market during March Madness, are supported by targeted ads and celebrity and social media algorithms. Other platforms appeal to youth, allowing point-based sports gaming redeemable for currency and links to sports gambling sites. Emerging data suggest that sports bettors have greater impulsivity, faster gambling escalation, and more difficulty setting limits than people engaging in traditional casino gambling.

In 2023, then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory about social media use and supported placing product warning labels on social media platforms, similar to warning labels on tobacco and alcohol products.

Conclusion

Legal sports gambling is viewed as entertainment and has created significant tax revenue and consumer engagement. Those are the pluses. However, long-term public health costs are to be determined.