Beyond Sports Betting Legalization: Comparing Problem Gambling Risk Patterns in Legal and Illegal States

The 2018 Supreme Court decision allowing state-level sports betting legalization in the United States has raised concerns about its impact on problem gambling risk. This study examined whether legal status predicts problem gambling severity scores while adjusting for demographic characteristics. Data were collected in March-April 2022 from sports bettors in states with legal (n = 974) and illegal (n = 307) sports betting, using the Problem Gambling Severity Index to assess risk levels. While legal status did not significantly predict problem gambling risk, demographic factors emerged as crucial predictors. Age and education consistently predicted risk across both regulatory contexts, with younger bettors and those with lower education showing greater vulnerability. However, other demographic patterns varied by context: females demonstrated higher risk in illegal states while no gender differences emerged in legal states, and single status predicted elevated risk only in legal jurisdictions. These findings indicate that sports betting policy considerations should extend beyond the simple decision to legalize or prohibit, to consider context-specific interventions based on demographic vulnerabilities.