A new academic study has raised concerns about the broader social impact of sports betting in the United States, suggesting that the expansion of legal wagering may be contributing to financial hardship for some households.
The research, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), examined the relationship between sports betting legalization and food sufficiency across US states. According to the study, jurisdictions that introduced legal sports betting experienced a rise in food-insecure households, with researchers estimating that more than 284,000 additional households may have been affected.
The paper, titled Wagering the Bread Money: Sports Betting Legalization and Food Sufficiency, also found that healthcare-related spending increased by an estimated $130.2 million in states where sports betting was legalized.
Researchers noted that the strongest effects appeared among people who actively participate in sports betting. Food sufficiency among sports bettors declined by 10.5%, compared with a 2.1% decline among the wider population of working-age adults. The findings suggest that gambling losses may be forcing some households to cut back on essential purchases, including food.
The study identified adults aged 25 to 44, along with racial and ethnic minority groups, as the demographics most affected by the trend.
However, the authors stopped short of claiming a definitive cause-and-effect relationship. They acknowledged that proving sports betting directly causes food insecurity remains difficult, particularly because the research relies on self-reported household data and other economic factors may also play a role.
Despite those limitations, the researchers said the findings carry important policy implications as the United States prepares to host major international sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.