Changes in gambling behaviors among young adults in Rhode Island, 2022-2024.

Authors

Samantha R Rosenthal, Jadyn N Torres, Madalyn E Lyons, Shayanne Silva

Published in

Addictive behaviors. Volume 183. Pages 108804. Jul 22, 2026. Epub Jul 22, 2026.

Abstract

The rapid expansion of legalized sports betting and mobile gambling in the U.S. has transformed how gambling is accessed and experienced. Young adults are particularly vulnerable to these changes; however, limited research has examined how gambling behaviors are shifting across multiple modalities during periods of expanding gambling availability.
We analyzed repeated cross-sectional data from the Rhode Island Young Adult Survey (RIYAS) collected in 2022 (n = 1,022) and 2024 (n = 1,008) among individuals aged 18-25 years. Outcomes included past-year participation in specific gambling behaviors, positive BBGS (Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen) screens, and overall gambling involvement measured as the number of gambling types endorsed. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated adjusted odds ratios for differences in individual gambling behaviors between survey waves, and Poisson/zero-inflated Poisson models estimated differences in gambling involvement.
Gambling participation did not differ significantly between 2022 and 2024. However, among individuals reporting gambling, participation increased in several activities, including lottery tickets (AOR = 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.01-1.83), raffle gambling (AOR = 1.40, 95 % CI: 1.05-1.88), sports betting (AOR = 1.65, 95 % CI: 1.07-2.56), casino slot machines (AOR = 2.99, 95 % CI: 2.10-4.27), other slot machines (AOR = 2.30, 95 % CI: 1.23-4.33), and app-based gambling (AOR = 2.14, 95 % CI: 1.38-3.32). The number of gambling types endorsed increased (IRR = 1.28, 95 % CI: 1.16-1.41). Positive BBGS screens were more common in 2024 but not statistically significant after adjustment.
Findings suggest while overall gambling participation remained stable, engagement across multiple and mobile-based gambling activities increased between survey waves, potentially signaling emerging risk. Increasing diversification and digitalization of gambling behaviors requires continued surveillance and public health strategies addressing emerging gambling environments.

PMID:
42497732
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 25 Jul 2026.

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