Researchers find online sports betting link to depression, anxiety

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — Researchers found a link between online sports betting and the need for mental health services. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers analyzed a large national dataset of employer-sponsored health insurance claims. “We have never seen gambling and sports betting and other forms of gambling be more accessible or really inescapable than they are now,” said Mark Meiselbach, the study’s first author. The study found that in the 22 states that legalized online sports betting, there were increases in the use of depression and anxiety medications. “We found in both men and women anywhere between a 5% to 7% increase in both prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications and anti-depressants,” said Meiselbach, who is an assistant professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of Health Policy and Management. The analysis found that legalization was associated with increased probabilities of an outpatient diagnosis of depression—a 6.73% increase for men and 5.47% increase for women. Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.