Arnold Ventures has committed $2.6 million to academic research on online sports betting harm as legal wagering reaches record levels across the United States.
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Americans legally wagered $166.94 billion on sports during 2025, up 11% from the previous year. Sportsbook revenue reached $16.96 billion, according to American Gaming Association data.
However, independent research into the financial and social effects has not grown at the same rate. Arnold Ventures wants the new grants to help close that gap.
John Arnold, who founded the philanthropic organization with Laura Arnold, said mobile betting has changed how quickly and frequently people can gamble.
“Being able to bet over the phone has dramatically increased access and lowered friction,” Arnold said. “It has changed what the product is. You can bet on every pitch. You can bet with a speed that was never possible when you had to place a call to put a bet down.”
The research program will include Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania and institutions in Texas, along with other universities.
Projects will assess gambling harm, consumer behavior and the effects of easy access to betting apps. The findings could also guide states considering legalization, advertising rules, deposit controls and responsible gambling protections.
“These research projects will shed light on the impacts of this new reality and help policymakers weigh important decisions about whether to legalize gambling, how to regulate it, and how to effectively reduce harm for their constituents.”
The US sports betting market changed rapidly after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. Nearly $167 billion was wagered legally in 2025, while sportsbook tax payments reached $3.71 billion.
Mobile platforms now account for most legal betting activity, which lets customers place live wagers and player prop bets throughout a game. Arnold said regulators need stronger evidence before setting future gambling policy.