Sports gambling could be boosting binge drinking in young men
Men aged 35 or younger who already drink heavily may be even more likely to binge alcohol because of legal online sports betting, a new study has found
Online sports betting is driving some young men to binge drink more than ever, a new study finds. The results add to the mounting evidence that to the legalization of online sports gambling and apps could “have spillover effects beyond gambling itself,” says Keshar Ghimire, the study’s senior author and an economist at the University of Cincinnati.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal ban on sports gambling in 2018, the industry has exploded. Americans wagered nearly $41 billion on sports betting in the first quarter of 2025 alone, according to one estimate. At its epicenter is young men: a 2024 U.S. survey found that one in four men aged 30 or younger gamble on sports online. And as the market has grown, scientists and public health advocates have become increasingly alarmed that young men who participate in sports betting may be at a heightened risk of negative physical and mental health consequences.
In the new study, Ghimire and his co-author found that men with a history of binge drinking—defined for men in the study as consuming five or more drinks in one sitting—had a 10 percent increase in the frequency of binge drinking, on average, after online sports betting became legal in their state.
On supporting science journalism
If you’re enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Gambling apps or websites are designed to make it hard to click away, and bars are popular settings for watching sports. These factors may combine to put men at increased risk.
“Online sports betting differs from traditional gambling because it is immediate, continuous, and easily accessible through smartphones,” Ghimire says. “That accessibility may make it easier for gambling to occur in settings where alcohol consumption is already common, such as watching live sports.”
He adds, however, that the research “identifies the causal link but does not directly test the behavioral mechanisms behind it.”
Importantly, the study relies on participants self-reporting on how much they drink. That “could mean that the true level of consumption—and possibly the magnitude of the increase—is somewhat higher than what appears in the survey data,” Ghimire says.
Ultimately, Ghimire says the study could help local policymakers target responsible gambling messaging at young men. Currently, online sports betting is legal in 31 states and Washington, D.C.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world’s best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.