This paper by Univ. of Maryland Professor Economics Melissa Kearney reveals that household lottery spending is financed primarily by a reduction in non-gambling expenditures, not by a reduction in expenditures on other forms of gambling. The introduction of a state lottery is associated with an average decline of $46 per month, or 2.4 percent, in household non-gambling expenditures. Low-income households reduce non-gambling household expenditures by 2.5 percent on average, 3.1 percent when the state lottery includes instant games.
American Medical Association: Growing Health Concern Regarding Gambling Addiction in the Age of Sportsbooks
The number of states with operational sportsbooks increased from 1 during 2017 to 38 during 2024. Total sports wagers increased