Representatives Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Blake Moore (UT-01) have introduced the bipartisan Gambling Disorder Health Study Act. The legislation would require the federal government to undertake a comprehensive, multi-year study examining the causes, progression, and long-term impacts of gambling disorder.
Why Is There a Need for the New Study?
Since the US Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Murphy v. NCAA granted states the authority to legalize sports betting, the gambling industry has experienced unprecedented growth. Sports betting has helped bring gambling into the mainstream, expanding the industry’s reach and attracting millions of new participants. This growth is reflected in industry revenues. In 2025, US commercial gaming revenue reached a record $78.72 billion, up 9.2% from the previous year.
However, the rapid expansion of legal sports betting has also heightened concerns about gambling-related harm. Today, more than one-quarter of Americans report having an active online sportsbook account, including more than half of men between the ages of 18 and 49. Additionally, one-third of men in that age group report using online event-based prediction markets to wager on sports outcomes.
As gambling participation has increased, so have concerns about addiction and mental health impacts. Research indicates that online searches for gambling addiction support have risen by 23% since 2018, while an estimated 2–3% of Americans meet one or more criteria for gambling disorder. Various institutions, for example, the University of Maryland, have also sounded the alarm over the increase in gambling disorders, such
Despite these trends, gambling addiction has received comparatively limited federal attention. Although gambling disorder is recognized as a behavioral addiction in the DSM-5, no federal agency is currently designated or funded to lead comprehensive national research on the condition. This gap is particularly notable given the widespread availability of gambling and the federal government’s collection of tax revenue from gambling-related activity.
What Are the Policy’s Goals?
The legislation would direct the federal government to undertake a comprehensive study examining the causes, progression, demographics, and long-term impacts of gambling disorder and gambling-related harm. It would also assess the effectiveness of prevention, treatment, and intervention strategies, while exploring policy issues related to the rise of gambling, including the legalization of sports betting, increased media exposure, and other social and economic factors.
Furthermore, the HSS would be required to submit annual progress reports to Congress and provide policy recommendations based on the study’s findings.
The measure would fund the research by allocating 10% of federal excise tax revenue generated from state-authorized sports wagers for up to three fiscal years.
According to Rep. Dan Goldman, gambling addiction is a growing public health crisis, particularly among young men. He argued that the federal government should treat it with the same seriousness as other forms of addiction. He said the bipartisan legislation would serve as an important first step toward understanding the impact of the online platforms that have made gambling accessible around the clock, and developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Goldman also called on Congress to take a more active role in addressing gambling addiction by advancing the legislation.
Rep. Blake Moore echoed Goldman’s words by saying the widespread growth of sports betting and prediction markets has ushered in a new era of gambling addiction. This has made it increasingly important for policymakers and the public to better understand the causes and consequences of problem gambling. He argued that the proposed legislation would provide valuable research needed to develop effective solutions and help address the growing challenge of gambling addiction.