A longitudinal investigation of sports betting legalization’s influence on problem gambling

IF 3.6 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Addictive behaviors Pub Date : 2025-08-05 DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108448

Tiange Xu , Joshua B. Grubbs , Shane W. Kraus

引用次数: 0

Abstract

As sports betting legalization expands across the United States, understanding its effects on problem gambling remains crucial for evidence-based policy development. This longitudinal study tracked 112 American sports bettors over two years using a natural experimental design, comparing problem gambling severity between participants in states that legalized sports betting during the study period versus those in states maintaining prohibitions. Mixed-effects negative binomial regression revealed no significant interaction between time and legalization status. However, equivalence testing failed to demonstrate that legalization’s effect was practically negligible, leaving the true impact uncertain. Demographic analysis identified significant risk factors, with younger age and single marital status predicting higher problem gambling severity. These findings underscore the need for targeted protective measures for vulnerable demographic groups within regulatory frameworks in newly legalized jurisdictions.

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体育博彩合法化对问题赌博影响的纵向调查

随着体育博彩合法化在美国的扩展，了解其对问题赌博的影响对于基于证据的政策制定仍然至关重要。这项纵向研究采用自然实验设计，在两年多的时间里追踪了112名美国体育博彩者，比较了研究期间体育博彩合法化州和禁止州参与者的问题赌博严重程度。混合效应负二项回归显示时间与合法化状态之间无显著交互作用。然而，等效检验未能证明合法化的影响实际上可以忽略不计，使真正的影响不确定。人口统计分析确定了显著的风险因素，年轻和单身婚姻状况预测更高的问题赌博严重程度。这些调查结果强调需要在新合法化的司法管辖区的监管框架内对弱势人口群体采取有针对性的保护措施。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Addictive behaviors 医学-药物滥用

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

4.50%

发文量

283

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing high quality human research on addictive behaviors and disorders since 1975. The journal accepts submissions of full-length papers and short communications on substance-related addictions such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs and nicotine, and behavioral addictions involving gambling and technology. We primarily publish behavioral and psychosocial research but our articles span the fields of psychology, sociology, psychiatry, epidemiology, social policy, medicine, pharmacology and neuroscience. While theoretical orientations are diverse, the emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. However, innovative and empirically oriented case studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry are accepted as well. Studies that clearly contribute to current knowledge of etiology, prevention, social policy or treatment are given priority. Scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are encouraged. We especially welcome multimedia papers that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings. Studies can also be submitted to Addictive Behaviors? companion title, the open access journal Addictive Behaviors Reports, which has a particular interest in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically-oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research.