Urban Institute report highlights financial strain among online sports bettors
The study found that online bettors were far more likely to miss bill payments and report lower savings than people who wager only in person.
US.- A new study by the Urban Institute found that online sports bettors were significantly more likely to report financial hardship than people who play only in person. The report also showed that online gamblers tend to bet more frequently and are more likely to miss bill payments or save less money.
The analysis was based on data from 320 sports bettors who placed wagers online, in person or through both channels. According to the report, online sports bettors were 15 times more likely to report missing a bill payment than those who wagered only in person, and they were twice as likely to say they had saved less money.
Online bettors also reported higher gambling frequency. Seven per cent said they gambled daily, while none of the in-person bettors reported daily wagering. Across the full sample, 28 per cent said they bet weekly and 23 per cent said they bet monthly. Researchers found that individuals who gambled more frequently were more likely to have placed riskier bets during the previous 12 months.
Most respondents reported relatively modest spending levels, with 55 per cent saying they had wagered less than US$ 100 during the previous 12 months. However, 11 per cent said they had spent US$ 1,000 or more over the same period.
