Is Sports Betting the New Pornography?

While betting has existed almost as long as humankind – an ancient casino was discovered in the caves of Utah – online betting has been found to cause financial, mental, and social harm, particularly among young men. Is online sports betting – part of a growing multibillion dollar industry that includes predictive markets for global conflicts and more  – a reality that simply needs transparency, consumer protection, and regulations? Or is it an insidious and addictive commodity causing irreparable harm?

Join former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie (read his op-ed on sports betting here) and New York Times columnist David French for a debate-style conversation moderated by Chuck Todd, former moderator of NBC's Meet the Press.

Co-sponsored by International House.

If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact iopevents@uchicago.edu.

Thursday, April 9, 2026
International House
5:30 - 6:45 pm