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sports1d ago
Having a religious affiliation doesn’t prevent betting on sports
- Latest study shows religious identity and worship frequency influence sports gambling habits in the United States.
- Infrequent worship attendees are more likely to gamble on sports than weekly attendees or non-worshippers.
- Catholics, especially Catholic men, emerged as the group most likely to bet on sports.
- The study notes religion can both deter and permit gambling depending on tradition and context.
- The average bet among gamblers was about $57, with men reporting higher stakes than women.
- The research used data from the National Sports and Society Survey conducted 2018–2019 across all 50 states.
- The research team highlights gender differences in betting within religious groups, notably Catholics.
- Researchers say religion may fill the moral gap where exposure to sports betting is culturally accepted.
- The findings could inform public health and policy efforts to reduce gambling harms.
- The study was published in the Sociology of Sport Journal on the same day as the data release.
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