Minnesota is one of the few states remaining where sports betting of any kind remains illegal, and that may be helping keep violent crime numbers down, according to a new study.
According to a study conducted by researchers at Rice University, states that legalized sports betting after a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling experienced a significant spike in assaults, larceny and car thefts during and immediately after professional sporting events. Crime increases were most profound:
- During home games; and
- When betting outcomes defied expectations, such as underdog victories
“Sports betting is exciting for fans and financially attractive for states, but our findings show it can also lead to more crime,” said Hua Gong, assistant professor of sports analytics at Rice University and a co-author of the study, which appears in the Journal of Sports Economics.
Sports Betting And Crime
According to researchers, crime rose between 30-70 percent from the start of a game through four hours after it ended in states that allow sports betting. Assaults showed the largest increase, rising by as much as 93 percent following unexpected outcomes in home games. Researchers said they also noticed spillover effects in neighboring states without legal sports betting, suggesting many betters often cross state lines to place wagers and then return home.
However, researchers say that the legalized of sports betting isn’t solely to blame for the crime increase. They also noticed that crime increased with stressful games (close outcomes or overtime). This falls in line with posts we’ve made in the past about the connection between sports and crime:
Sports Results Impact Domestic Violence Rates
Crime Spikes During Home NFL Games
Anytime you have a large group of people gathering in one place (especially when groups are cheering for opposing teams) and you add the possibility of alcohol to the mix, you’re going to see an uptick in crime. It seems unlikely that sports betting is really fueling as much of this crime increase as the study suggests, and it’s more likely a combination of the fact that crime has regularly spiked following football games, and the current state of increased tension following COVID-19 and political unrest. Sports betting likely has continued to tip the scales, but it’s just one factor, and the data on “spillover” states could very well suggest a rise in crime from other factors not tied to sports betting.
Whether you have money on the game or you’re simply hoping your team comes out victorious, remember that at the end of the day it’s just a game, and there are far more important things in life. No sports bet or unexpected football loss is worth going to jail or throwing your life away over.
However, if you or someone you know ran into some legal trouble before, during or after a sporting event, let the team at Appelman Law Firm assist. We’d be more than happy to build a strong defense and ensure you avoid a worst case scenario. For more information, connect with Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
