Online Gambling Explodes During The Pandemic. Are You Addicted?
The Superbowl is coming up and March Madness is around the corner, just two more big opportunities for online sports betting. With people home much more than usual, sports betting and online gaming has been booming. In December Governor Phil Murphy tweeted that sports betting smashed records this past December, earning more than 66 million for online companies like Fan Duel in the state.
However, sports betting, like all gambling can have serious consequences. Experts say online gaming and gambling addictions have exploded since COVID-19 probably due to social isolation combined with stress. Similar to binge shopping or eating, gambling is a “process addiction.” Just like an addiction to drugs or alcohol, compulsive gambling can lead to a spike in pleasure chemicals in the brain called dopamine.