On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jeff Edelstein is joined by Isaac Rose Berman, gambling policy fellow, writer, and bettor, for an in-depth conversation on youth exposure to gambling, social media algorithms, prediction markets, and what effective responsible gambling policy should actually look like.
Hear them discuss:
00:00 – Introductions, Isaac’s background, and navigating credibility as a young voice in gambling research
02:30 – Isaac’s path from poker and sports betting to journalism, research, and policy work
06:30 – Underage gambling exposure, loot boxes, fantasy sports, and why kids are seeing gambling content without seeking it out
10:30 – The “gamified” nature of modern life, social media algorithms, and how gambling content spreads organically
14:30 – Why social media may pose a greater risk to young people than gambling itself
18:30 – Practical regulatory ideas: opt-out limits, schedulable cool-off periods, and separating sportsbook and casino apps
22:00 – Micro-betting vs. live betting, addiction risk, and why banning micro-bets may make sense
26:00 – Same-game parlays as entertainment products vs. high-frequency betting behavior
30:00 – Prediction markets, regulatory arbitrage, and whether sportsbooks will remain the dominant betting product
34:30 – Advertising, athlete endorsements, and why gambling ads generate universal fatigue
38:30 – Gambling education, parental conversations, and what modern gambling literacy should actually teach young people
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