Research into domestic violence has found that when a professional football team has an unexpected loss in its hometown, intimate partner violence can increase by 10%. A new analysis from researchers at the University of Oregon found that this effect is amplified in states with legalized sports betting. Sports gambling is currently legal in 38 states, including Oregon and Washington. Thirty states – including Oregon – also allow mobile sports betting, which researchers found further increased the chance of a spike in intimate partner violence.
Kyutaro Matsuzawa and Emily Arnesen are both economics PhD candidates at UO. They join us with more details on their analysis.
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