The International Center for Responsible Gaming Wednesday announced that initial findings from its sports wagering study have been released in JAMA Network Open, a journal of the American Medical Association.
The project was conducted by Bowling Green State University in Ohio and surveyed a national sample of 2,806 individuals, including 1,553 sports bettors. Results indicate that 6.2% of respondents wagered on sports during the past year. Younger men of high income, residing in a state where sports gambling is legal, were most likely to wager on sports.
The survey also measured problem gambling behaviors, finding that players engaging in general sports betting, daily fantasy play, and e-sports wagering can be categorized as moderate-risk or high-risk gamblers. General fantasy sports players are not considered to be at risk.
The study will follow up with survey participants at regular intervals for the next two years to assess psychosocial well-being and sports-wagering behaviors. The follow-ups will give the research team the ability to track the trajectories of sports-wagering behaviors over extended time periods.
The research grant was funded by the ICRG’s Sports Wagering Research Fund supported by the American Gaming Association, MGM Resorts International, DraftKings, Caesars Entertainment, Entain, NASCAR, Hard Rock International, IGT, and the PGA Tour.
