1. Record-Breaking Gambling Participation:

• Super Bowl LVIII serves as a striking example of how deeply entrenched gambling has become in American culture. An estimated 68.5 million Americans placed bets on the event—by far the highest on record. This statistic underscores not only the popularity of gambling but also the accessibility that legalization and mobile technology have created.

• As gambling expands, more individuals are exposed to the risks, with some inevitably developing gambling problems. The ease of access—whether through mobile apps, websites, or physical casinos—makes it increasingly difficult for individuals to avoid falling into risky patterns of behavior.

2. The Scale of the Problem:

• Problem gambling—and the related issues of addiction, anxiety, depression, and financial ruin—is not a small-scale issue. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG):

  • 1% of U.S. adults, or approximately 2.5 million people, are considered to be problem gamblers.

  • 5-8 million more adults are at mild to moderate risk of developing gambling addiction, bringing the total number of Americans potentially affected to more than 10 million.

• This is significant considering that 85% of U.S. adults engage in some form of gambling, ranging from the low-risk—like buying a lottery ticket—to the high-risk forms, such as sports betting and online casino gaming.