This report is a summary of the Weighing up the Odds study which sought to understand the sports‑betting motivations, attitudes and behaviours of young men aged 18–35 who watch or play sports (e.g. AFL, cricket, soccer, horse racing). Its findings suggest that sports betting has become normalised among this population of young men, facilitated by the growing accessibility of gambling and new technologies.

Key findings:

• One quarter (23%) of bettors reported being under 18 when they first placed a bet on sports.
• On average, participants reported betting on six different national and international sports during the previous 12 months. Half of the participants bet at least weekly on sports.
• Betting agency promotions were found to drive gambling uptake, with young men viewing those promotions as an appealing, low‑risk or no‑loss betting option.
• Participants reported having an average of four different accounts with online wagering companies.
• Alcohol featured prominently in betting behaviour, with 64% of young men saying they had bet on sports while drinking.
• Of all young men who bet on sport, 70% were found to be at risk of, or already experiencing, gambling harm.