In recent years, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has been advocating for the legalization of sports betting. The league has cited its own business interests in gambling as a driving force behind this push. However, the rise of online gambling has brought about concerning health outcomes such as increased rates of depression and substance abuse.
To better understand the impact of online gambling on society and how it has changed the nature of sports and fandom, we spoke with sports writers and addiction experts on Lever Time. These experts expressed their concerns about the NBA’s promotion of gambling and its potential negative consequences on public health, athletes, and long-time fans.
Companies like DraftKings and FanDuel have become synonymous with the NBA, their commercials now a regular part of basketball games. In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned a federal law that prohibited gambling in most states, leading to the legalization of sports betting in several states and the widespread use of online sportsbooks. Today, millions of fans incorporate betting into their viewing experience, but this trend is a cause for concern among public health experts, athletes, and long-time fans who fear the negative consequences of the NBA’s promotion of gambling.
For more in-depth coverage on this topic paid subscribers can listen to this week’s episode of Lever Time Premium where Guardian climate reporter Dharna Noor discusses Donald Trump’s plans to expand fossil fuel production and potentially sell off key portions of the government’s climate operations if he is re-elected for a second term. Click here to access the episode.
