Has Legalizing Sports Gambling Become A Bad Bet?
From Open to Debate by Open to Debate
March 19, 2026 · 53 min
About this episode
The episode debates whether legalizing sports gambling has led to negative consequences such as gambling addiction and public health issues.
Sports fans can place bets on their favorite teams and athletes faster and easier than before, thanks to legalized sports gambling. But was it the wrong bet to make? Advocates say it’s been good for fans, the economy, and the sports industry. Those who say that what’s happened since legalization is a bad thing, say it’s driven a rise in gambling addiction and created a public health crisis. Now we debate: Has Legalizing Sports Gambling Become A Bad Bet? Arguing Yes: Harry Levant, Director of Gambling Policy at the Public Health Advocacy Institute Arguing No: Bill Pascrell III, Partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group Nayeema Raza, Journalist and Host of "Smart Girl Dumb Questions", is the guest moderator. Join the conversation on Substack—share your perspective on this episode and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for curated insights from our debaters, moderators, and staff. Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and TikTok to stay connected with our mission and ongoing debates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Nayeema Raza
Guests: Harry Levant, Bill Pascrell III
Topics covered
- sports gambling
- public health
- gambling addiction
- economy
- sports industry
- debate
Keywords
- sports gambling
- gambling addiction
- public health crisis
- economy
- sports industry
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Public Health Advocacy Institute, Princeton Public Affairs Group, Smart Girl Dumb Questions
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