
The Dangerous Spiral of Sports Gambling
The next post in my end-of-year series, “One Man’s Voice… in the Noise”, I want to write about another type of addiction that is growing among men, especially younger males: Sports Gambling. Sadly, we live in times where gambling is no longer confined to casinos, the local bookie, or neighborhood poker nights. It follows us everywhere—on our phones, advertised aggressively, embedded in sports culture, and presented as harmless fun. I’ve seen the allure of betting apps while sitting among a group of guys at an NFL game. I also know someone who attends Gamblers Anonymous meetings. Global online gambling spending has grown to approximately $78.66 billion (USD) in 2024 and increase to $153.57 billion by 2030, a stunning 11.9% annual growth rate. While not the first instance in history (see the Chicago Black Sox scandal or Pete Rose), gambling has infiltrated professional sports. Recently, authorities charged an NBA head

