Sports betting was once very much on the margins of North American sports. Today, it is everywhere — on phones, broadcasts, arena signage and pregame shows.

This episode of More Than Just A Score explores how sports wagering evolved from racetracks, backroom bookmakers and Las Vegas sportsbooks into a massive digital industry built around mobile apps, live betting, same-game parlays and microbetting.

We look at the rise of regulated sports betting in the United States after the 2018 Supreme Court decision struck down a law prohibiting states from allowing sports gaming, Canada’s move toward single-event wagering, and the rapid growth of Ontario’s iGaming market. We also examine the serious questions now facing the industry: problem gambling, youth exposure, match integrity and scandals involving Jontay Porter, Ippei Mizuhara and NCAA athletes.

As sports betting becomes more profitable, more personalized and more connected to every moment of every game, the central question becomes clear: can North America avoid over saturation without curtailing personal freedom?

If gambling is no longer just for fun, please consider speaking with a mental health professional or contacting a local problem gambling support service.

Credit: C-Span, CBS, TNT/NCAA, Toronto Raptors/NBA, Government of Ontario, ESPN