The Betting States of America

The Betting States of America

From It Turns Out by Kara Miller

March 6, 2026 · 46 min · Season 1 · Episode 10

About this episode

This episode explores the impact of 24/7 betting culture on society and individual psychology.

What happens when a culture is suddenly engulfed by 24/7 betting, wagering, and prediction markets? In this episode of It Turns Out , host Kara Miller sits down with Dr. Timothy Fong, a psychiatrist and co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program , to explore the hidden costs of America's new favorite pastime: "solitude entertainment." From the staggering story of a student who drained his $180,000 college fund in just 18 months, to the psychological traps of treating apps like DraftKings and Polymarket as second jobs, Fong explains how the normalization of digital gambling is rewiring our brains and deepening the wealth gap. Discover the science behind addiction, the reality of why the house always wins, and what this unprecedented surge in financial risk-taking means for society's future. For more on the massive growth of sports gambling, check out the work of The Journalist's Resource at Harvard's Shorenstein Center. You can sign up for our newsletter here . Did you know you can also watch the show? Subscribe to the show on YouTube!

People in this episode

Host: Kara Miller

Guest: Dr. Timothy Fong

Topics covered

  • gambling
  • addiction
  • society
  • financial risk
  • psychology
  • wealth gap

Keywords

  • gambling
  • betting
  • addiction
  • financial risk
  • wealth gap
  • society
  • psychology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UCLA Gambling Studies Program, The Journalist's Resource, Harvard's Shorenstein Center

Products: DraftKings, Polymarket

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