Gambling Ads Appear Every 13 Seconds During Major US Sports Games

A recent study by the University of Bristol reveals that hockey fans watching the 2025 Stanley Cup finals were exposed to gambling logos and advertisements as frequently as every 13 seconds, averaging 3.5 betting-related marketing messages per minute. This contrasts sharply with the NBA Finals, which showed a much lower frequency of 0.26 gambling-related messages per minute. Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that legalized sports betting in the U.S., now legal in 39 states and Washington D.C., the industry has grown rapidly, with annual wagers approaching $150 billion and significant investments in advertising, sponsorships, and broadcast partnerships. Critics, including Democratic Congressman Paul Tonko, warn that the constant advertising blitz poses dangers, especially to young and vulnerable audiences, by normalizing gambling and potentially increasing addiction rates. The American Gaming Association defends the industry’s advertising as responsible and minimal compared to other sectors like alcohol and pharmaceuticals. This surge in gambling marketing during sports broadcasts has raised concerns about its societal impact amid rising internet searches for gambling addiction help.