By Jeffrey McCrum
Before 2018, only four states had legal sports betting; most people who wanted to bet on sporting events were either doing so illegally or making the trek to Las Vegas. In 2024, that isn’t the case; legally betting on sports is now just a few taps away on your phone in 38 states and Washington, D.C. One area where this change is readily apparent is in the advertising space.
“Taking the over” on sports betting ads
Do you feel like you’ve been bombarded with sports betting ads since the practice has been legalized in most of the country? You’re not alone; Disqo projects that the total ad spend for sports wagering reached a whopping $2 billion in 2023. On TV, these ads feature celebrities encouraging you to part ways with your money to bet on whatever hunches you have about sports; LeBron James, Kevin Hart, and Jamie Foxx appear in these ads, just to name a few. These ads aren’t just reserved for sports programming; they appear when watching everything from the local news to Friends reruns.
Bettor beware
As sports betting has become legalized and normalized, gambling addictions have increased. For those who are recovering from gambling disorders, the barrage of ads encouraging you to bet on long-shot parlays or “no sweat” bets can cause relapses. So why aren’t there limits on sports betting advertising? The biggest reason is the First Amendment, as many regulators do not want to risk litigation from the courts over restricting commercial speech.
The legalization of sports betting by the Supreme Court has had numerous effects that we will not know the full extent of for years to come. What is clear is that the conversation around regulation, responsibility, and the role of advertising in shaping public behavior will continue to be critical.
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