Personal finance guru Dave Ramsey has called sports betting the fastest growing addiction in the world of money. [Image: Gage Skidmore / Flickr.com]
Personal finance guru Dave Ramsey is well known for giving his opinions on people’s spending and saving habits. He called out the ever-growing popularity of sports betting in the US on his show and posted the clip to X on Thursday:
Sports betting isn’t just a little hobby—it’s an addiction that’s wrecking families and futures.
The industry is out of control, making it easier than ever to lose everything with just a few taps on your phone. I’ve seen people drown in six-figure debt before their families even… pic.twitter.com/SzYhedD4ba
— Dave Ramsey (@DaveRamsey) February 27, 2025 Since the end of the federal ban in May 2018, almost 40 states have legalized the activity, and a large portion of the US population now has 24/7 access to sportsbooks.
Ramsey referenced a case in which a man was $300,000 in debt due to sports betting. He labeled it as “probably the fastest growing addiction problem” in the money world right now.
He referenced how people can bet on everything, even touchdown celebrations. The 64-year-old said people are ruining their futures by betting on other people who are earning a living through sports.
post finished by saying that the house always wins and that no individual will be the exception
His social media post finished by saying that the house always wins and that no individual will be the exception. The post got plenty of attention, with more than 225 replies, 663 retweets, and over one million views.
Some people remarked in the replies on the prevalence of gambling-related ads on television and online these days, while others believe the entry into the market by household brands like ESPN is normalizing the activity.
