The addiction of online sports gambling: "Like crack in the '80s"

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The addiction of online sports gambling: "Like crack in the '80s". (2026, September 20). CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/the-addiction-of-online-sports-gambling-like-crack-in-the-80s/

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Quick Summary

Since sports gambling became legal beyond Nevada in 2018, legally wagered money has reached $167 billion annually. In states where online gambling is permitted, there's a reported increase of 25% in bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies. The article highlights the addictive nature of online sports betting through personal anecdotes and explores how platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings interact with their customers, drawing comparisons to the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s due to its highly addictive qualities.

Written by AI on 2026-09-20, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Since sports gambling was legalized beyond Nevada in 2018, the amount of money legally wagered on it has surged to $167 billion annually. However, states that have allowed online sports betting have seen a rise in bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies by about 25%. CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod highlights how FanDuel and DraftKings, two major platforms for online gambling, interact with their customers and are currently facing lawsuits over the design of their platforms, which critics argue is similar to exploiting addictive behaviors seen in the crack epidemic of the 1980s.

Written for “Online Sports Gambling Addiction” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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📰 Online Sports Gambling Addiction

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This article reads leans left and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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Hedges 3 of 27 claims Outlet record 60/100

“The articles describe different events: one discusses the general addiction issue related to online sports gambling, while the other reports on a specific lawsuit filed by New York State against Polymarket for alleged illegal gambling operations.”

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“Article A discusses the broader issue of online gambling addiction and its legal implications across multiple states, while Article B focuses specifically on Pennsylvania's sports betting laws and options.”

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Fox News

⚖️ Leans strongly left further left than this Hedges 5 of 41 claims Outlet record 69/100

“The articles discuss different aspects of gambling but do not describe the same specific incident or occurrence.”

Online sports bettor says gambling now is "like crack in the '80s" Different event

CBS News

Hedges 0 of 3 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles discuss similar topics related to online sports gambling addiction and interviews with Jim Axelrod, they appear to be reporting on different parts of an ongoing investigation or discussion rather than the same specific event.”

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0 of 3 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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Claims (3 extracted, 0 hedged)

The money legally wagered on sports gambling has surged to $167 billion a year since it was legalized beyond Nevada in 2018. asserted

it → wager → 2018

But data show, in states where online gambling has been made legal, bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies go up 25%. asserted

bankruptcies → show → states

Correspondent Jim Axelrod talks to a gambler who wagers his annual income; and examines how the online betting platforms FanDuel and DraftKings – now the subjects of lawsuits regarding their design – interact with their customers. asserted

platforms → talk → customers

The addiction of online sports gambling: "Like crack in the '80s"

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