Public Health On Call

1006 - Public Health and Gambling Part 1: How Gambling Became So Ubiquitous, and the Potential for Problems

2026-02-04

About this episode: Sports betting has exploded in popularity, offering bettors the opportunity to gamble on everything from coin tosses to touchdowns. But experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the public health implications. In this episode: Researchers Matthew Eisenberg and Mark Meiselbach discuss the rise of online sports gambling, its potential dangers, and how policy guardrails could make it safer. Guests: Matthew Eisenberg, PhD, is a health economist and associate professor of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where he also serves as the Director of the Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy. Mark Meiselbach

About this episode:

Sports betting has exploded in popularity, offering bettors the opportunity to gamble on everything from coin tosses to touchdowns. But experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the public health implications. In this episode: Researchers Matthew Eisenberg and Mark Meiselbach discuss the rise of online sports gambling, its potential dangers, and how policy guardrails could make it safer.

Guests:

Matthew Eisenberg, PhD, is a health economist and associate professor of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where he also serves as the Director of the Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy.

Mark Meiselbach, PhD, is a health economist and assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content:

As Online Betting Surges, So Does Risk of Addiction—Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine
New Survey Shows Rising Rates of Disordered Gambling Among Marylanders Since Legalization of Online Sports Betting—University of Maryland School of Medicine
Warning Signs—Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling
Voluntary Exclusion Program—Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gaming
Public Health and Gambling Part 2: Problem Gambling—Public Health On Call

Transcript information:

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