A study in Health Economics reports that the proliferation of online sports betting in the United States may be encouraging more binge drinking in young men who already drink.Why Its Relevant
The rapid growth of legalized sports gambling following the key 2018 Supreme Court ruling Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association has raised many public health concerns. Most salient are indicators that the prevalence of gambling use disorder is on the rise. However, there is also the potential for spillover effects, as studies have found an association between gambling and other mental health and substance use disorders.
By The Numbers
- Using national data from the 2016 through 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys, researchers examined the effect of sports betting laws that were passed during this period on smoking and alcohol behaviors.
- The team found that following the passage of a law that permitted online sports betting, binge‐drinking frequency in young men ages 18 to 35 in that state increased by around 10% (an extra 0.5 binge days per month).
- There were some initial associations suggesting online sports laws led to increased smoking in young women, but this became insignificant with more robust analysis.
The Other Side
This analysis captured only the initial years of sports betting’s proliferation and was limited to two substances commonly linked with gambling, so the broader consequences remain uncertain. BRFSS data is also self-reported, which may understate true consumption levels.
What’s Next
These preliminary findings suggest that sports betting laws seem to produce targeted demographic effects, and pave the way for additional, more granular investigations. For example, how much of the increase in binge drinking is directly gambling related (drinking while placing bets and/or following game stats) or due to the adverse mental and financial consequences of gambling.
Related Information
Source
Kabir Dasgupta and Keshar Ghimire. Gambling and substance use: early evidence from sports betting laws. Health Economics. Published March 11, 2026. DOI: 10.1002/hec.70088
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