Optimist Economy
Optimist Economy
Kathryn Anne Edwards and Robin Rauzi
Sports Betting Is This Generation's Big Tobacco
48 minutes Posted Nov 3, 2026 at 9:30 am.
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Retcon: Healthcare moral hazard vs. cost-sharing; networks and military branches
Terms & Conditions: Handle, the hold, and the tulip bubble
Big Pilcrow: Sports betting, prediction markets, and addiction
Executive Orders: Free museum entry for union members; kid-sized sink staircases
Spiritual Sponsors: Hermanos Gutiérrez; good procedural movies
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Show notes
Since the U.S. Supreme Court let states legalize betting on sports in 2018, gambling has exploded. More than half of men ages 18 to 49 say they have an active account with an online sportsbook. Want to bet on a game, a play, or even an individual performance? The bookie is always open on your phone, and it sends promo credits to keep you in the game. Young men see the harm up close. The share of men under 30 who call legal sports betting bad for society has more than doubled since 2022, to 47%. Built to be addictive, sports betting is like cigarettes—and deserves a public health response. 
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