Preliminary findings from a University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) examine recommend that 7% of surveyed Colorado gamblers expertise severe playing issues, elevating issues about shopper dangers within the state’s regulated betting market.
Led by UNLV psychology professor Shane Kraus, the analysis concerned 500 randomly chosen Colorado residents, together with gamblers and non-gamblers. Early outcomes indicated that 4% participated in playing, whereas the reported drawback playing charge was two share factors increased amongst girls. Researchers have but to find out the explanations for that distinction.
The findings come as Colorado continues to report substantial sports activities betting exercise. During the 2025-2026 fiscal 12 months, residents wagered $6.4 billion on sports activities, producing roughly $47 million in state tax income.
“When you look at the (total) sports betting market, the prevalence rate is kind of high,” Kraus stated. “It’s concerning. It’s not a good thing.”
The venture stays underway, with last findings anticipated after the Super Bowl in February.
Researchers Examine Gambling Participation and Risks
The survey recognized lotteries as the most typical playing exercise amongst contributors, accounting for 41.4% of responses. Sports betting adopted at 17.4%, whereas slots and video poker represented 16.2%.
Casino desk video games accounted for 11.6% of reported preferences, with bingo shut behind at 11.4%.
Researchers additionally discovered that 13.9% of respondents reported taking part in on-line playing actions described as unlawful in Colorado. Another 7.3% had bought contracts by means of prediction markets.
Kraus emphasised that playing issues have an effect on a comparatively small proportion of contributors, though the implications could be severe for these experiencing difficulties.
“Not everyone has a problem with gambling,” Kraus stated, as reported by CDC Gaming. “The small percentage who do aren’t doing great and those are the ones we worry about.”
The Colorado findings kind a part of a wider analysis venture that additionally surveyed roughly 1,400 gamblers and non-gamblers nationwide. Investigators are inspecting betting motivations and spending patterns to higher perceive components related to dangerous habits.
Betting Advertising Becomes a Research Priority
Sportsbook advertising represents one other necessary part of the investigation, notably the wording operators use to advertise betting incentives.
Researchers are inspecting expressions corresponding to “risk-free betting,” “free money” and “free play” to find out whether or not they affect customers’ understanding of economic dangers.
Kraus questioned the outline of risk-free betting, calling it “no such thing.”
World Cup-related knowledge offered further details about promoting publicity. Among survey contributors, 37.5% watched not less than a part of the ultimate between Spain and Argentina, whereas 59.4% encountered sportsbook promoting in the course of the last week of the event.
Another 35.1% reported seeing promotional betting affords, and seven.3% positioned real-money wagers on the championship match.
Participants thought of affords involving bet-50-get-10 incentives and first-bet cashback extra prone to encourage extreme spending than commercials selling a 30% revenue increase.
Existing analysis has additionally examined the connection between playing promotions and shopper habits. A Massachusetts Gaming Commission report discovered that nationwide tv sportsbook promoting expenditure elevated from $21.4 million in 2019 to $314.6 million in 2022.
Separately, a scientific assessment of 65 tutorial articles linked sports activities betting with elevated drawback playing dangers and recognized promoting as a possible affect on perceptions of playing security.
Findings Could Inform Colorado’s Prevention Measures
The UNLV researchers offered their early outcomes on the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado’s annual convention. The venture acquired funding by means of the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission’s Responsible Gaming Grant Program.
The crew really helpful better cooperation between researchers and therapy suppliers, with participation from people who’ve skilled playing hurt.
Other proposals included figuring out higher-risk teams and testing prevention measures earlier than introducing them on a bigger scale. Researchers additionally instructed making findings extra accessible to regulators and group organisations.
Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, defended Colorado’s regulated betting framework, referring to voters’ determination in 2019 to legalise sports activities wagering with commitments to shopper safety. He argued that regulation had helped transfer bettors away from unlawful offshore platforms.
Investigators will proceed analysing the collected data earlier than publishing their last conclusions. The accomplished examine is predicted to supply a clearer image of gambling-related hurt and the potential affect of sportsbook promoting.
