America’s Increasing Gambling Habits

by Matt Thornburg

Millions of people exist in a world where everything is monetized, some people have an inherent advantage to cash in, and everyone around them seemingly just exists to increase their payout. Am I talking about America in 2026? Or something else? The explosive growth of online betting on everything from sports to elections to war provides a potent metaphor for where our country is right now.

While gambling has been a part of the human experience since the dawn of history, the growth of technology, a permissive regulatory environment, and growing financial uncertainty have driven its use to levels unseen in recent times.

Careful studies of the introduction of online betting in an area show that betting reduces credit and strains finances of vulnerable households. Gambling is also shown to increase intimate partner and domestic violence.

However, I am convinced that online betting is a symptom, rather than a cause of greater problems. Foremost among them is the breakdown of a notion of "we" as people. When Americans see their neighbors merely as marks in a rigged game, we aren't really a society anymore. What academics call social capital is in steep decline across America. That rich tapestry of connectedness is fraying as "we" takes losses to "me".

Unlike some of my past social action minutes, I don't have a legislator you can call or a bill you can support. But putting kindness, connectedness, and empathy  out into the world can certainly help.