Sports betting

March Madness is underway and you can be sure a lot of bets are being made in North Carolina on who will go all the way. This month marks two years since the state legalized online sports gambling. In that time, North Carolina has seen a rise in gambling problems.

Two years ago, Americans bet $120 billion on sports, a 27% increase from the previous year. That figure grew to $150 billion in 2024. Journalist Danny Funt investigates what's considered one of the most consequential — and least scrutinized — shifts in modern American sports in his new book, "Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling."

Sports betting marketers are wooing females, pitching their gambling as inclusive, empowering and a way to connect with friends.

With March Madness underway, gambling problems are rising — especially among teenagers and younger men.

Two years ago, Americans bet $120 billion on sports, a 27% increase from the previous year. That figure grew to $150 billion in 2024. Journalist Danny Funt investigates what's considered one of the most consequential — and least scrutinized — shifts in modern American sports in his new book, "Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling."