Correlates of gambling and gambling problems among Rhode Island young adults: a cross-sectional study.

This article examines gambling behaviors and associated problem gambling symptoms among young adults aged 18 to 25 in Rhode Island, focusing on the impact of legalized sports betting following a 2018 US Supreme Court decision. Using data from the 2020 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey (RIYAS), the study found that 22.4% of participants engaged in gambling activities, with sports betting being the most common (12.4%), and 11.5% exhibited symptoms of problem gambling. Males, individuals identifying as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), older young adults, and essential workers had higher odds of gambling, while sports betting was uniquely associated with increased risk of problem gambling after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. The authors suggest that comprehensive prevention policies, including age restrictions and availability limits, are needed to mitigate gambling-related harms as sports betting expands in the United States.