Stay away from this mix.
A recent report reveals a correlation between sports gambling and binge drinking, with individuals who engage in sports betting demonstrating a higher likelihood of engaging in binge drinking behavior. Both male and female sports bettors were found to be at least twice as prone to binge drinking compared to non-gamblers, with the frequency of gambling correlating with increased odds of binge drinking.
The research, spearheaded by Joshua Grubbs, an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of New Mexico, analyzed survey data from approximately 4,400 adults regarding their gambling and alcohol consumption habits. The findings indicate that individuals who bet on sports, particularly with greater frequency, are more inclined to indulge in binge drinking.
According to the study, women and men who participated in sports betting once or twice in the past year were respectively 2.4 and 1.9 times more likely to report binge drinking. Moreover, the likelihood of binge drinking rose significantly with more frequent engagement in gambling activities:
- For monthly gambling: 3.8 times more for women and 2.9 times more for men.
- For weekly gambling: 5.9 times more for women and 4.7 times more for men.
- For daily or almost daily gambling: 14.4 times more for women and 8.9 times more for men.
Published in the journal JAMA Network Open, these findings underscore the concerning relationship between sports gambling and risky alcohol consumption behaviors.
Binge drinking, defined as the consumption of five or more drinks on a single occasion for men and four or more drinks for women, as outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), poses significant health risks. Associated complications include injuries, violence, sexually transmitted diseases, and various chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, liver disease, and cancer.
The prevalence of binge drinking among U.S. adults underscores the importance of addressing the intersection of sports gambling and alcohol consumption, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to mitigate associated health risks and promote safer behaviors.
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