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CBS Program Reports 25% Rise in Bankruptcies Linked to Online Sports Gambling

CBS News reports a 25% rise in bankruptcies in states with legal online gambling ahead of a broadcast featuring interviews with Nvidia's CEO and the Smithsonian Secretary.

Published September 18, 2026 at 2:36 PM EDT

The short answer

CBS News reports a 25% rise in bankruptcies in states with legal online gambling ahead of a broadcast featuring interviews with Nvidia's CEO and the Smithsonian Secretary.

CBS Program Reports 25% Rise in Bankruptcies Linked to Online Sports Gambling

The Facts

Who
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, filmmaker George Lucas, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
What
A report on the rise of bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies in states where online sports gambling is legal, alongside profiles of cultural and tech leaders.
When
Broadcast scheduled for Sunday; museum opening and book releases set for Sept. 22.
Where
New York, Los Angeles, and Santa Clara, California.
Why
Online gambling has grown into a $167 billion annual industry, with data showing a 25% increase in financial distress in legal states.

CBS News announced a lineup of features for a broadcast of "Sunday Morning," including a report on the economic impact of online sports gambling. The program cited data indicating that in states where online wagering is legal, credit card delinquencies and bankruptcies have risen by 25%. The segment features an interview with a gambler who wagers his entire annual income and examines the business practices of platforms FanDuel and DraftKings, which are currently facing lawsuits regarding their design.

The broadcast also covers the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, which opens Sept. 22. Founders George Lucas and Mellody Hobson discuss the institution's focus on storytelling through comics, fantasy art, and motion picture design. Additionally, the program includes an interview with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang regarding safety and regulations in artificial intelligence, and a segment with outgoing Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, who recently announced his retirement at age 73.

In the arts and literature segments, the program features interviews with Hollywood executive Ari Emanuel and Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, both of whom have new books releasing on Sept. 22. The show also reports on a public art project by St. Ann’s Warehouse that brought 40 life-size buffalo puppets to Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, and pays tribute to costume designer Bob Mackie, who died on Sept. 14, 2026, at the age of 87.

The legal challenges facing DraftKings and FanDuel could set precedents for how digital gaming interfaces are designed and how companies interact with customers. Furthermore, the retirement of Lonnie Bunch from the Smithsonian marks a leadership transition for the institution, following a period where Bunch reported facing pressure from the Trump administration regarding the patriotism of museum staff.

The broadcast also highlights the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on Sept. 22. This museum will house works from popular media like magazines and film design. Additionally, CBS News is launching a series of live events starting Sept. 28 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, featuring Sylvester Stallone.

Timeline of what happened

Key dates and decisions, in the order they occurred.

  1. 2018

    Sports gambling legalized beyond Nevada

  2. 2019

    Lonnie Bunch becomes Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution

  3. September 14, 2026

    Costume designer Bob Mackie dies at age 87

  4. September 22, 2026

    Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens in Los Angeles

  5. September 22, 2026

    Books by Ari Emanuel and Charles Spencer released

  6. September 28, 2026

    CBS News launches live event series at 92nd Street Y

Summaries are written by The Plain Record to state the facts of a story plainly and without political slant. Drafted with AI assistance and checked against the source record before publication. See how we report, or report a correction.

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Questions readers ask

What happened: CBS Program Reports 25% Rise in Bankruptcies Linked to Online Sports Gambling?

A report on the rise of bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies in states where online sports gambling is legal, alongside profiles of cultural and tech leaders.

Who is involved?

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, filmmaker George Lucas, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

When did this happen?

Broadcast scheduled for Sunday; museum opening and book releases set for Sept. 22.

Where did this happen?

New York, Los Angeles, and Santa Clara, California.

Why does this matter?

Online gambling has grown into a $167 billion annual industry, with data showing a 25% increase in financial distress in legal states.