Binge Drinking Among Sports Gamblers

The purpose of this research was to examine whether individuals who wager on sports in the US are at greater risk of binge use of alcohol. They collected a total of 4363 respondents census-matched sample of US adults with an oversample of adults who wager on sports.

Quantitative Data

• 75% of daily (or almost daily) sports betters engaged in binge drinking.
  • • ♦ This is 4 TIMES more than gamblers who do not engage in sports betting.
• 66% of weekly sports betters engaged in binge drinking.
  • • ♦ This is 3 TIMES more than gamblers who do not engage in sports betting.
• 59% of daily (or almost daily) sports betters engaged in binge drinking.
  • • ♦ This is 2.5 TIMES more than gamblers who do not engage in sports betting.

Qualitative Data

• Sports gamblers were disproportionally likely to be men and younger.
• Sports gamblers tend to be more inclined toward risk taking.
• Alcohol consumption is higher among sports gamblers, and sports gamblers often use substances while gambling.
• Binge drinking in both men and women was reported at greater frequency among sports wagering individuals compared with non-gamblers and non–sports gamblers.
• Individuals who wager on sports use alcohol in particularly risky ways.

Risk Factors

• Identifying as male
• Sports betting.
• Younger age.

Identified Conclusions

• Binge drinking in both men and women was reported at greater frequency among sports wagering individuals compared with non-gamblers and non–sports gamblers.

Identified Recommendations

• This finding highlights an immense need for ongoing research, particularly to examine how novel gambling technologies influence the prevalence, presentation, and prevention of alcohol use disorders and related harms.