The Deadly Duo: Gambling and Alcohol in Sports
Sports Betting Connected to Frequent Alcohol Consumption, Study at UNLV Reveals
Step into any sports book on a big event day, and you'll notice a common trend - people betting and sipping on their favorite drinks. But as Shane W. Kraus, an associate professor of psychology at UNLV, warns, this seemingly harmless pastime can be a recipe for "double trouble."
Kraus, director of the university's Behavioral Addictions Lab, and his team found that sports gamblers are at least 1.9 times more likely to report excessive alcohol consumption compared to non-gamblers or gamblers who don't bet on sports. This link between the two vices stems from the brain's response to dopamine, according to Kraus.
Over a period of three weeks in 2022, Kraus and his colleagues surveyed over 4,300 adults in the U.S. Nearly 3,300 reported past-year alcohol use, while about 1,800 identified as sports gamblers who had bet on games in the past year. Their findings were published in JAMA Open Network, supported by the International Center for Responsible Gaming.
The relationship between sports gambling and excessive drinking is particularly concerning given the increasing prevalence of gambling advertisements in sports media. While alcohol advertising has been integrated into sports broadcasts for decades, the legalization of sports betting in many states has led to a rapid increase in gambling ads.
The co-occurrence of betting and drinking can exacerbate problematic behaviors, increasing risks of addiction and harm. To avoid problems, bettors should gamble responsibly, set limits, and always place wagers before having a drink.
Some experts have voiced concerns about the aggressive marketing strategies of both the gambling and alcohol industries, which mirror the tactics once used by the tobacco industry. The SAFE Bet Act, modeled after tobacco control measures, aims to regulate gambling advertising and protect consumers by banning AI-driven behavioral targeting, prohibiting the sale of personal gambling data, and implementing other public health safeguards.
While there's nothing inherently wrong with betting on a game or enjoying a drink, the potential risks become evident when the two activities are enjoyed simultaneously. As Kraus puts it, "Once you tie them together, it's really tough to stop." It's crucial to consider the potential negative impacts of these promotional practices on public health and take steps to mitigate risks associated with problematic gambling and excessive alcohol consumption.
Additional Insights
- Advertising Prevalence in Sports Media: Both gambling and alcohol advertising are prevalent in sports broadcasts, with gambling ads more common in football, hockey, golf, auto racing, and soccer, while alcohol ads are more frequent in basketball, women's basketball, and baseball programming [1].
- Link Between Gambling and Alcohol Use: A study involving college students found that those who gambled Problem Gambling Severity Index scores (PGSI) of 2 or more were more likely to engage in heavy episodes of drinking (5 or more drinks for men) and experience alcohol-related problems compared to those with lower PGSI scores [2].
- Public Health and Regulatory Perspectives: Advocates argue that the gambling industry, backed by sports leagues and media partners, contributes to normalizing gambling addiction through targeted advertising strategies. This has led to calls for stronger regulation, similar to those enacted against tobacco advertising [3].
References
- Clinical Psychological Science, 2021, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp. 787-795.
- Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2020, 81(3), pp. 440-446.
- Journal of Sport and Health Science, 2018, 7(2), pp. 99-105.
- Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, 2021.
- Journal of Public Health Policy, 2021, 42(4), pp. e225-e228.
- Despite the professional recommendations, some individuals might still choose to engage in sports-betting and sports-related drinking, potentially following a pathway that leads to an increased risk of developing problematic behaviors.
- In his research, Shane W. Kraus, a UNLV professor, found that professional sports-gamblers are more likely to report excessive alcohol consumption, a correlation that stems from the brain's response to dopamine.
- As both gambling and alcohol advertisements become increasingly common in sports media, particularly in football, hockey, golf, auto racing, soccer, basketball, women's basketball, and baseball programming, it is essential for bettors to gamble responsibly, set limits, and avoid consuming alcohol while placing wagers in order to minimize the risks associated with the co-occurrence of these activities.
