Young Men and Sports Betting: New Study Finds Higher Risk of Gambling Harm
A new study by The Kids Research Institute Australia has found that young men who engage in sports and fantasy sports betting are at greater risk of developing problem gambling behaviours.
The research, drawing on data from the Ten to Men Study — Australia’s largest and longest-running investigation into male health — identified a clear link between sports-based gambling and gambling-related harm in males aged 18 to 25. The study also found that higher levels of depression in this age group were associated with increased risk of problem gambling.
Lead author Dr Vincent Mancini, Senior Research Fellow at The Kids Research Institute, said the findings underscore the urgent need for targeted support.
“We know young men, especially, are more susceptible to forms of gambling that feature a skill-based component like sport and fantasy sport gambling,” Dr Mancini said. “But they’re also less likely to seek help because of factors including stigma around men’s mental health.”
Dr Mancini explained that current public health research often focuses on population-wide trends, which can obscure important differences between age groups and genders.
“Our findings highlight the potential generational and gender differences in gambling behaviours that might be obscured when studies look at population-level risk factors.”
"We know that young men gamble differently to other groups, and the way sports gambling leverages the interests of young men can place them at greater risk of falling into patterns of problematic gambling behaviour. To start implementing effective strategies to support young males before gambling starts to create social, psychological, and financial problems, we need to meet them where they are.”
Interestingly, the study also showed that certain psychosocial and behavioural factors — such as pressure to appear masculine, problem alcohol use, or visiting casinos — did not increase the likelihood of future gambling issues in this age group.
Dr Mancini recently presented his findings to Curtin MP Kate Chaney, sharing insights into how gambling harm among young men might be better addressed through targeted intervention and support.
According to 2023 data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, gambling losses in Australia total approximately $25 billion per year — or about $1,200 per adult — making it one of the highest rates of gambling loss per capita in the world. Men are disproportionately affected, with 53 per cent of male gamblers considered “at-risk” for gambling-related harm, compared to 38 per cent of female gamblers.
This latest study follows previous work by Dr Mancini that found increased gambling frequency and lower levels of perceived social support were the most significant predictors of future problem gambling in men aged 20 to 62. That earlier research did not examine the role of different types of gambling activity — a gap that the current study helps to address.
The project was a collaborative effort involving co-investigators from the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. Funding was provided by Embrace at The Kids Research Institute Australia.
Read the full paper Predicting Problem Gambling in Young Men: The Impact of Sports Gambling Frequency and Internalising Symptoms