Online Gambling Lawsuit Attorney
Mobile Gambling Lawsuit Lawyer
How Online gambling apps Exploit Consumers
Gambling apps aren’t just a game—they’re a dangerous trap designed to keep you playing. Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates for online sports gambling, these companies have built a multi-billion-dollar industry on aggressive marketing, deceptive promotions, and sophisticated data tracking. Gambling is now embedded in every aspect of sports culture, plastered across broadcasts, pushed through social media, and seamlessly integrated into mobile apps. However, behind the flashy ads and “risk-free” bets lies a predatory business model designed to keep users hooked, drive and profit off their addiction.
However, despite its glossy, fun presentation, online sports betting isn’t just another form of entertainment. It’s an addiction-driven industry that preys on young adults, those already struggling financially, and individuals with a history of gambling problems. Unlike traditional casinos, these digital bookies have engineered their platforms to maximize compulsive betting, making it easier than ever for users to fall into debt and psychological despair.
At Schlesinger Law Offices, we’ve been working for decades to hold corporations accountable for deceptive, predatory, and harmful business practices. From Big Tobacco to Galaxy Gas, we have a long history of taking on massive industries that profit from exploiting the public. Now, we are taking legal action against online sports betting platforms that deliberately push problem gamblers deeper into debt while ignoring the devastating consequences for their users.
This article will explore:
- The rise of sports betting in the U.S.
- The dangers of gambling addiction and its effects on individuals and families.
- How online bookies manipulate users into excessive betting.
- Recent lawsuits against gambling companies for their predatory practices.
- How Schlesinger Law Offices can help victims seek justice.
The Rise of Online Sports Betting in the U.S.
For decades, gambling in the U.S. was tightly regulated, with only a few states—such as Nevada—allowing full-scale betting operations. However, everything changed in 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which had largely prohibited states from legalizing sports betting. This decision created a foothold for a multi-billion-dollar industry to take root, with over 30 states now permitting online sports gambling.
With this ruling, sports betting shifted from Vegas casinos and underground bookies to smartphone apps, allowing millions of Americans to place bets instantly, anytime, anywhere. This accessibility has fueled an explosive surge in gambling addiction, especially among young adults who have been targeted with aggressive marketing, bonuses, and “risk-free” bets. According to a 2024 survey, one in five Americans has an account with an online sportsbook, and most place bets through mobile apps. Furthermore, a survey conducted in January 2024, found that 39% of men aged 18-49 had an account with an online sports betting service.
The Devastating Impact of Gambling Addiction
While online gambling platforms present themselves as a fun, low-risk form of entertainment, the reality is far more insidious. These platforms are engineered to keep users engaged for as long as possible, using behavioral triggers, instant gratification, and targeted incentives to fuel compulsive betting. What often starts as occasional wagers can quickly spiral into a destructive addiction, leaving financial, emotional, and relational devastation in its wake.
The effects of gambling addiction extend far beyond lost bets, leading to overwhelming debt, mental health struggles, fractured relationships, and life-threatening consequences. Studies show that problem gambling is linked to increased bankruptcy rates, severe depression, substance abuse, and rising incidents of domestic violence. With the rise of online sports betting, the incidence of these high-risk impacts has been increasing.
Below, we explore the profound toll that gambling addiction takes on individuals, families, and society as a whole.
At Schlesinger Law Offices, we know the devastating impact of being taken advantage of by a massive corporation. Online betting companies use deceptive tactics to lure users in, keep them playing, and push them deeper into debt, while turning a blind eye to the harm they cause. If you have suffered severe financial loss due to online sports betting, our experienced attorneys are ready to help you secure the justice you deserve.
The Financial Toll of Online Sports Betting
A long-term study by marketing professors from UCLA and USC found that the legalization of online sports gambling led to increased financial distress. Key findings include:
- Bankruptcy filings: Increased by 25-30% within three to four years of legalizing online betting.
- Debt sent to collections: Rose by 8% post-legalization.
- Auto loan delinquencies: Increased by 5% in states that legalized online betting.
- Debt consolidation loans: Usage rose by 10% compared to pre-legalization levels.
- Secured vs. unsecured loans: The ratio increased by 2% in online betting states.
- Credit card limits: Declined by 2.7% after legalization.
These findings suggest that online sports betting contributes to worsening financial stability for many individuals. The ease of access and continuous engagement facilitated by mobile apps likely accelerates risky gambling behaviors, leading to increased debt, missed payments, and higher bankruptcy rates. As more states legalize online betting, the long-term economic and personal consequences of gambling continue to raise serious concerns.
Mental Health Effects of Online Sports Betting
Research consistently links problem gambling with severe mental health consequences. The constant engagement, financial losses, and deceptive marketing tactics of online sports betting apps contribute to significant psychological distress.
- Increased anxiety and depression: Problem gamblers are significantly more likely to experience mood disorders, with studies showing a strong correlation between compulsive gambling and severe depression.
- Suicidal thoughts and attempts: Gambling addiction has one of the highest suicide rates of behavioral addictions, with problem gamblers being up to 15 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general public.
- Drug and alcohol abuse: Research indicates that nearly 75% of problem gamblers have an alcohol use disorder, and approximately 40% to 63% have a drug abuse disorder.
- Addiction-driven compulsions: Many users develop an inability to stop gambling despite devastating financial or personal consequences, leading to increased stress and emotional turmoil.
- Sleep disturbances and burnout: Continuous betting, especially with live in-game wagering, leads to disrupted sleep patterns, chronic stress, and cognitive exhaustion.
The psychological toll of online sports betting extends far beyond financial losses. As addiction deepens, gamblers find themselves trapped in a cycle of stress, isolation, and desperation. Left unchecked, these mental health struggles can escalate, affecting relationships, careers, and overall well-being. The digital bookies behind these apps know exactly how to exploit human psychology to keep users hooked—yet they take no responsibility for the damage they cause. Without stronger protections and accountability, gambling-related mental health crises will only continue to rise.
Gambling’s effects on Relationships and Domestic Violence
Problem gambling not only affects the individual but also has serious consequences for families and relationships. Studies show that gambling addiction is closely linked to increased domestic conflicts, relationship breakdowns, and domestic violence incidents. Recent gambling research finds:
- Higher divorce rates: Problem gamblers are more than twice as likely to experience separation or divorce, often due to financial strain, deception, or emotional detachment.
- Increased domestic violence risk: Gambling-related stress leads to higher rates of partner violence, with financial hardship and emotional volatility being key triggers.
- Neglect and emotional withdrawal: As addiction progresses, problem gamblers often become emotionally distant from loved ones, prioritizing betting over relationships.
- Child neglect: Households where gambling addiction is present see higher rates of child neglect due to parental distraction.
Online sportsbooks exploit behavioral psychology to maximize engagement, often targeting vulnerable individuals with bonuses and promotions that keep them betting. The collateral damage of gambling addiction extends far beyond the individual, often tearing families apart in the process.
The constant accessibility of mobile betting apps intensifies mental health impacts. With 24/7 access, personalized notifications, and dopamine-fueled wins, these apps are designed to keep users perpetually engaged, making it increasingly difficult to step away.
The Online Gambling Lawsuit Attorneys at
Schlesinger Law Offices
are Ready to Help
The House Always Wins, and Now the House Is Everywhere
With gambling now embedded in sports culture and accessible through just a few taps on a smartphone, gambling has become a constant presence in modern life. Once confined to casinos and racetracks, it now reaches consumers through multiple channels, often disguised as entertainment or harmless fun.
- Sports broadcasts & live streaming – Betting odds are now discussed alongside game analysis, normalizing gambling as part of the viewing experience.
- Mobile apps & push notifications – Betting platforms send constant alerts and promotions, enticing users to place more wagers.
- Fantasy sports platforms – Daily fantasy sports contests often operate similarly to traditional gambling, with users betting money on lineups in hopes of winning big payouts.
- Video games – Many popular games include loot boxes, virtual slot machines, or in-game currency that mimic gambling mechanics, conditioning players, especially young ones, for real-money betting later in life.
- “Social casinos” & virtual betting apps – Free-to-play gambling-style apps, where users bet virtual chips, reinforce the thrill of betting, keeping users hooked.
- Influencer & celebrity endorsements – High-profile athletes, streamers, and social media influencers regularly promote gambling platforms, making them seem cool, trendy, and fun.
- College partnerships – Some universities have partnered with gambling platforms, offering betting promotions to students and further normalizing gambling on campuses.
- Cryptocurrency & decentralized gambling – Offshore online betting platforms now accept cryptocurrency, making it easier to bypass traditional banking safeguards.
Young Adults & Teenagers Are Most at Risk
The worst part of this troubling trend is its impact on young adults and teenagers. With impulse control still developing, they are more vulnerable to addiction. Their heightened sensitivity to reward-driven behaviors makes them easy targets for gambling apps designed to keep users hooked.
- People under 25 are the fastest-growing group of problem gamblers.
- Brain development in young adults makes them more susceptible to impulsive decision-making and addictive behaviors.
- Simulated gambling apps, that use “in-game” currency, have been shown to increase addiction risk among teenagers.
- Exposure to sports betting ads—often featuring influencers, athletes, and promises of easy money—normalizes gambling from an early age.
This promotional onslaught make it increasingly difficult for young people to avoid exposure to gambling. With slick marketing, game-like features, and near-instant payouts, gaming companies have deliberately blurred the lines between entertainment and gambling leading to an alarming rise in addiction among younger generations.
Sportsbooks know all of this. Yet, instead of acting responsibly, they continue using predatory tactics to lure in users, encouraging compulsive gambling as the norm.
Deceptive Tactics: How Sportsbooks Manipulate & Exploit Gamblers
Online sportsbooks don’t leave gambling to chance, they manipulate user behavior with advanced technology and psychological tricks. These digital casinos track each individual’s every bet, collecting massive amounts of data to keep users engaged and losing money.
Some of the most treacherous tactics include:
- Encouraging “Chasing Losses”
- When users lose a bet, sportsbooks send notifications offering “free bets” or deposit bonuses, tempting them to bet again immediately.
- Personalized messages are sent at strategic times. For example, right after a big loss or just before a big game to entice users to keep betting.
- Making It Too Easy to Bet
- One-click betting and auto-fill deposit options remove “friction”, making it effortless to keep gambling.
- Deposit defaults are often set higher than the minimum amount, encouraging users to spend more than they intended.
- Hiding Safety Tools
- While sportsbooks claim to offer responsible gambling tools, features like self-exclusion and spending limits are often buried deep in settings.
- Apps often require users to actively opt-in to safety tools rather having safety tools in place as the default.
- Keeping Users Addicted with Personalized Offers
- AI-driven algorithms analyze user behavior to send highly targeted incentives that maximize gambling engagement.
- Users who take a break often receive exclusive “VIP” rewards or special promotions designed to lure them back.
These practices are not accidental, they are calculated to make quitting as difficult as possible.
Drowning in Gambling Debt?
Schlesinger Law Offices
is Here to Help
Recent Lawsuits Against Online Sportsbooks
As public awareness grows, legal action against gambling platforms is beginning to take shape. Several lawsuits have targeted the predatory nature of online bookies, accusing them of intentionally fostering addiction for profit.
Some notable cases include:
- FanDuel Class Action: A lawsuit accused FanDuel of using deceptive marketing to lure users into excessive gambling while failing to provide meaningful safeguards.
- Fliff Sportsbook Lawsuit: Plaintiffs allege that Fliff, a “social sportsbook,” operates as an unregulated gambling business while misleading users about their odds of winning.
- DraftKings & FanDuel Probes: Multiple states are investigating deceptive advertising and exploitative user engagement strategies.
These ongoing lawsuits could set a legal precedent, opening the door for new claims against the industry’s largest sportsbooks.
How Schlesinger Law Offices Can Help
At Schlesinger Law Offices, we have a long history of fighting corporate deception and predatory industries. From holding Big Tobacco accountable for misleading the public about the dangers of smoking to taking on JUUL and ZYN for addicting a new generation to nicotine, our firm has built a reputation for standing up to powerful industries that profit at the expense of consumers.
Our experienced gambling lawsuit attorneys are here to fight for justice, hold these companies accountable, and help victims recover from the harm caused by these deceptive and exploitative online gambling companies. We understand the devastating impact that online gambling can have on individuals and families, and we are committed to using our expertise to seek compensation for those affected.
If you or a loved one has faced financial ruin, addiction, or mental health struggles due to online sports betting, you may be entitled to compensation. Fill out the form on this page for a free case review, and let us help you take the first step toward justice.
