You know who will rank among the biggest winners of the Super Bowl on Feb. 8? Politicians and bureaucrats in the nearly 40 states that have legalized sports betting. 

Americans legally wager almost $150 billion a year on sports, including the NFL’s biggest game. Before and even during the game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, NFL fans are expected to bet $1.7 billion on everything from who will win the opening coin flip to how many passes quarterbacks Sam Darnold, of the Seahawks, and Drake Maye, from the Patriots, will complete.

Taxes on those bets – New York assesses a 51% levy on sports gaming revenue – add billions to state budgets. But it comes at a high cost to the public. 

In 2025, researchers from UCLA found a “substantial increase” in bankruptcies, loan delinquencies and debt sent to collection agencies in states that have legalized sports betting. 

The researchers used data from the University of California Consumer Credit Panel, which collects credit scores, credit card balances,........

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