Sports Betting and Hazardous Alcohol Use among Young Adults: Added Risks of Betting and Drinking on the Same Day

Abstract

Background. Sports betting is growing in popularity at alarming rates, especially among young adults. However, sports betting is not yet widely considered as a public health concern due in part to scarce examination of health correlates. The present study entailed cross-sectional examination of associations between problem sports betting and indices of hazardous alcohol use and negative alcohol-related consequences, and whether associations were moderated by same-day drinking and sports betting. Method. The sample comprised 221 young adults aged 18-29 with representation from 36 different states in the U.S. (Mage=24.4; 77.7% male; 64.6% white). Eligibility criteria included betting on sports at least twice in the past month. Results. Zero truncated hurdle models revealed that problem sports betting scores were significantly associated with hazardous alcohol use (i.e., AUDIT scores) for those who drank at least once in the past 3-months. Problem sports betting was also associated with any (vs. no) negative alcohol-related consequences, as well as the number of negative consequences young adults experienced. Both count models were moderated by same-day drinking and sports betting such that positive associations were amplified among those who more frequently drank and bet on sports on the same day. Conclusions. Findings provide early-stage evidence for a link between problem sports betting and alcohol-related problems among young adults, especially among those who more frequently engage in both behaviors within the same timeframe. These results highlight the need for more research on sports betting from a public health lens as the prevalence of this addictive behavior continues to rise.