A new study shows that there may be a link between the legalization of sports betting in the US and a rise in violent crime. The study in the Journal of Sport Economics, completed by researchers at Rice University and the University of Michigan, states that gambling can be mentally overwhelming for some people. This can, in turn, lead to them exhibiting violent impulses.
The researchers analyzed data from 2017 to 2021 from the “National Incident-Based Reporting System” and found a 70% increase in criminal behavior between the start of a professional sporting event and four hours after it concluded. Assaults were the biggest contributor, rising 93% after unexpected outcomes for the home team. The study focused on states with legal sports betting and neighboring states where the activity is still illegal.
mental overload can turn into aggressive behavior depending on the individual
Researchers believe that financial distress is no longer the main reason for betting-related criminal activity. There was a significant rise in incidents when games were deemed stressful, particularly those with close scores or those that went into overtime. The mental overload can turn into aggressive behavior depending on the individual.
Hua Gong, Rice University’s Assistant Professor of Sport Analytics, said that lawmakers need to understand the tradeoffs between the tax dollars legal betting brings in versus the social consequences. He said that there needs to be “safeguards, better consumer protections and public awareness efforts as the industry continues to expand.”
