A new study shows that sports bettors are more likely to binge drink than individuals who are not gambling at all or who are gambling in another way.
The study from UNLV and the University of New Mexico included a survey of more than 4,000 people, and found that sports bettors engage in a lot more binge drinking — approximately five drinks per sitting — than their non-sports-betting counterparts, said co-author Shane Kraus, UNLV psychology professor and director of the Behavioral Addictions Lab.
“They just have more heavy alcohol use,” he said. “And we know heavy heavy alcohol use is a risk factor. It’s not a very good health behavior. So that’s the big takeaway — and it didn’t matter if they’re male or female. Men and women who do sports betting engage in a lot more drinking, or more binge drinking.”
