Available data since early 2024 show exactly the pattern Chamath described: rapid growth of app‑based gambling in the U.S., heavily concentrated among young men, alongside worrying levels of problem gambling.

1. Usage of app‑based sports betting is rising sharply
• A February 2024 national survey found 19% of U.S. adults—and 39% of men 18–49—had an online sports‑betting account, with 91% of bettors having a betting app on their smartphone and most betting at least weekly.(sbu.edu)
• By February 2025, a follow‑up survey showed 22% of Americans—and 48% of men 18–49—had an active sportsbook account, a notable one‑year jump (19%→22% overall; 39%→48% for men 18–49).(scri.siena.edu)
• Industry and regulatory data indicate that ~80% of all U.S. sports bets were already placed via mobile apps by 2023, and commercial sports‑betting revenue in May 2024 was up ~25% year‑over‑year, underscoring rapid expansion of app‑based gambling.(rg.org)
• Operators report large year‑over‑year gains: BetMGM’s online sports revenue grew ~68% year‑on‑year in early 2025, and legal wagering on Super Bowl 2025 was projected to hit a record $1.39B, up over 11% from 2024.(investopedia.com)

2. Problem gambling and addiction are concentrated in young men and linked to apps
• A September 2024 Fairleigh Dickinson University national poll found that 10% of U.S. men aged 18–30 scored as problem gamblers versus 3% of the overall population, with problems strongly associated with online sports betting and online slots; the poll’s authors explicitly warn that online gambling is “creating a generation of problem gamblers.”(fdu.edu)
• Rutgers’ 2023 New Jersey prevalence study (widely cited in 2024 coverage) found that one‑third of bettors aged 18–24 wager exclusively online—about five times the share in 2017—and that 19% of 18–24‑year‑olds were at high risk for gambling problems, especially men.(oceancountyhealth.gov)
• National surveys of 18–22‑year‑olds show sports betting is widespread (58% have bet on sports; 28% use apps or websites), with measurable shares losing large sums (e.g., >$500 in a day), and public‑health reporting in 2025 continues to describe online gambling among youth as “on the rise.”(nyproblemgambling.org)
• Research summarized in 2025 coverage of sports‑betting scandals reports that in states where sports betting is legal, about 19% of 18–24‑year‑olds meet high‑risk criteria for gambling problems, again highlighting young men as the core at‑risk group.(businessinsider.com)

Taken together, these data show: (a) rapid growth in app‑based sports betting usage, particularly among young men; and (b) a substantial and growing cohort of young men exhibiting problem or high‑risk gambling behaviors strongly tied to those apps. That matches the substance and direction of Chamath’s prediction that app‑driven gambling and associated addiction among young men would "skyrocket" in the coming years, so as of late 2025 his prediction is best judged as right.