Researchers at the University of Michigan and Rice University examined crime incident reports from 2017 to 2021 to assess the public-safety effects after the 2018 Murphy v. NCAA Supreme Court decision that opened the way for legalized sports betting.
They report significant increases in assaults, larceny and vehicle theft during professional games and in the four hours after games in states that legalized betting. Overall crime rose substantially on game days, with increases reported between the start of a game and four hours after. Assaults showed the largest jump, especially following unexpected home-team outcomes.
The study also found spillover effects in neighboring jurisdictions where betting remained illegal. The researchers argue that nonfinancial factors — notably the stress of close or overtime contests — are a major driver of betting-related crime, and they recommend safeguards, better consumer protections and public awareness efforts. The paper appears in the Journal of Sports Economics.
Difficult words
- assault — a violent attack on another personassaults
- larceny — taking someone else's property without permission
- spillover — an effect that spreads into other places
- jurisdiction — area with its own legal authority or rulesjurisdictions
- safeguard — a measure to protect people or rightssafeguards
- assess — to examine and judge something's value
- legalize — to make something allowed by lawlegalized
- outcome — a result of an event or actionoutcomes
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think sports betting changes how fans behave at games? Why or why not?
- What kinds of safeguards or consumer protections would you support around sports betting in your area?
- How could public awareness campaigns help reduce crime linked to sporting events?
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