Imagine being down on luck. While scrolling through social media, an ad for a promising way to make thousands of dollars at home appears. What is this promise out of poverty? Sports betting.

With more of the United States population falling into poverty, many people are targeted by sports betting ads. These ads show A-list celebrities in fantasy worlds where they are sitting in a tub full of cash or surrounded by women. While these ads may seem harmless to people who are financially well off, people who may be poor or lonely take them as a glimpse into their potential future if they participate in sports betting.

The sports betting industry is extremely lucrative, meaning big companies are driven by profit to exploit more emotionally and financially challenged people. More often than not, most of these people are under tremendous stress and need a distraction. This is where sports betting shines, as it is easy to place bets while watching your favorite team play. Black and Hispanic young men are more likely to participate in sports betting, according to pewresearch.org. Black Americans particularly stand out, with 19% of adults participating in sports betting, which lines up with data from kff.org that shows Black Americans are among the top races with the highest poverty rates. 

Accessibility is also what is driving the sports betting market upwards. Before everyone carried minicomputers (smartphones) in their pockets, there were sportsbooks dedicated to sports betting at major athletic events. Now, all it takes is going to the app store and clicking download. As of November, there are over 50 legal sports betting apps that operate in the United States. This easy access can also influence high school students to participate. Annalise Roberts, freshman, says, “I think sports betting ads can negatively influence students and warp their perception of sports.” Sports betting can exploit malleable young minds that are looking for a quick buck.

Sports betting is an exploitative industry at its core. It affects particularly low-income people who are already struggling, and its easy access can expose young minds to serious addiction. This glamorized version of gambling needs to be controlled, or more people may become addicted and face severe financial consequences.