Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40304852›Full record

ArticleJournal of gambling studies2025

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

Tiange Xu, Joshua B Grubbs, Shane W Kraus

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of gambling studies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Tiange XuWilliam F. Harrah College of Hospitality, University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5020-4349
Joshua B GrubbsDepartment of Psychology, Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions, University of New Mexico, 2650 Yale Blvd SE, MSC11-6280, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2642-1351
Shane W KrausDepartment of Psychology, University of Nevada, Box 455030, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-5030, USA. shane.kraus@unlv.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0404-9480

Funding

International Center for Responsible Gaming International Center for Responsible GamingInternational Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las VegasKindbridge Research Institute Kindbridge Research InstituteNevada Department of Health and Human Services Nevada Department of Health and Human ServicesNevada Problem Gambling Project Nevada Problem Gambling ProjectProblem Gambling Network of Ohio Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

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.

Indexed as

GamblingSportsAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsUnited StatesYoung AdultDemographic characteristicsProblem gamblingSports bettingSports betting legislation

Identifiers

PMID40304852

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.