Online Gambling Addiction Lawsuit: Case Details, Side Effects, and Complaints

Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Murphy v. NCAA, the sports betting industry has exploded, from $4.9 billion wagered in 2017 to more than $148 billion in 2023. With sportsbooks now legal in 39 states and Washington, D.C., concerns about gambling-related harm have skyrocketed, especially among young adults.

A recent report from the Campaign for Accountability exposed how top gambling companies have publicly claimed to support “responsible gaming,” while aggressively lobbying to weaken consumer protections, block safety reforms, and preserve the most addictive features of their platforms.

Public Health Crisis

The rise of legalized sports betting in the U.S. has led to a public health crisis. Lawsuits are being filed against online gambling platforms like BetMGM and Caesars for fueling gambling addiction among young adults.

If you or a loved one developed a gambling addiction or suffered serious financial losses after using online sportsbooks, you may qualify for a lawsuit. These claims seek to hold gambling companies accountable for designing addictive apps, promoting deceptive “risk-free” bets, and targeting vulnerable users with manipulative marketing tactics.

Lawsuits against major gambling platforms allege they have:

  • Promoted misleading “risk-free” or “no-sweat” bets that exposed users to real financial loss
  • Used behavioral data to target high-risk gamblers with customized promotions and incentives
  • Designed apps to foster compulsive betting, with rapid wagering, constant notifications, and loyalty rewards
  • Failed to implement safeguards like betting limits, “cool-off” reminders, or self-exclusion enforcement
  • Continued marketing to users who tried to quit or block themselves from the platform

Public health officials warn that gambling addiction is rising at alarming rates, especially among college students and young men. Studies show:

  • 1 in 10 young men report signs of gambling addiction
  • Individuals with gambling disorders face a 15 times higher suicide risk than the general population
  • Young users are especially vulnerable to deceptive marketing and addictive app designs

Despite these risks, gambling companies have fought against regulations intended to protect consumers; such as banning “risk-free” ads, limiting in-game betting, or capping promotional bonuses.

According to the Campaign for Accountability’s watchdog report, companies like BetMGM or Caesar’s have followed a clear playbook:

  • Delay reforms through aggressive lobbying
  • Weaken regulations that would reduce compulsive betting
  • Oppose advertising limits near college campuses
  • Target young adults by pushing to lower the legal gambling age
  • Exploit personal data to fuel addictive behaviors

These tactics mirror those used by Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. Industries that profited by downplaying harm and resisting oversight.

Contact a Sports Betting & Gambling Addiction Attorney

The attorneys of Wright & Schulte work every day to preserve the rights of personal injury victims, one case and one client at time. If gambling apps caused you or someone you love to suffer financially or emotionally, you don’t have to face it alone. Our attorneys are actively investigating cases against BetMGM, Caesars, and other major platforms. Please do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte today. For a FREE, no obligation legal evaluation of your case, fill out the brief online form or give Wright & Schulte a call, toll-free, at 1-800-399-0795.

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