This One Big Concern Could Continue to Derail Idaho Sports Betting Legislation

Ever since the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act all the way back in 2018, momentum for Idaho sports betting legalization has remained nonexistent. It’s clear that’s not going to change anytime. 

The Gem State has shown little to no interest in passing legislation that allows them to capitalize on the increased popularity of online sports betting in the USA. Reasons for their opposition vary. Idaho has stricter state laws when it comes to gambling than many others. Meanwhile, many officials point to a lack of upside, a modest state population, logistical hurdles and moral opposition, among other things. 

More recently, though, extra attention is being paid to the impact legal sports betting has on the financial solvency of Americans. This isn't exclusively getting viewed through the lens of sports betting in Idaho, either. States with legal sports betting are taking a closer look at the data, as well.

The issue so far lacks a wide-spread consensus. With that said, plenty of studies are in the books, or in progress. And while we must reiterate that experts have yet to make concrete declarations, there appears to be a general hypothesis many believe to be true: Sports betting in the United States disproportionately hurts lower-income householders relative to others. And if that’s the case, it means that the legalization of Idaho sports betting could prove uniquely damaging. 

Multiple Studies Spotlight Potential Adverse Impacts of Legal Sports Betting on Low-Income Households

Kevin Hardy of the Idaho Capital Sun wrote about the findings from some of the conducted studies. The primary takeaways are definitely troubling, as you can read below:

“In a working paper released in August, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California determined access to legal online sports betting led to lower credit scores and higher rates of bankruptcies. That study examined credit bureau data of more than 4 million American consumers. ‘Our results ultimately suggest that gambling legalization does harm consumer financial health,’ the report said. A study led by a Southern Methodist University professor released in June found problem gambling increased in states that introduced online casino gambling alongside online sports gambling. Another working paper from researchers at several U.S. universities found legalized sports betting drained household finances more than other types of gambling and diverted money from saving and investing.”

The findings do not end here. Justin Balthrop, an assistant professor at the University of Kansas recently wrote a paper titled “Gambling Away Stability.” His paper looked at nearly one-quarter of a million households from 26 states that legalized sports betting between 2018 and 2023. He says that he found a 14 percent overall decrease in savings and investment totals following legalization. 

What’s more “researchers found that sports betting disproportionately hurts lower-income households as they run up credit card debt and overdraft checking accounts.” This is a big deal for every state, both those with and without sports wagering. But it matters a great deal to the Idaho sports betting conversation.

Here’s Why This Matters Even More for the Idaho Sports Betting Outlook

If lower-income households are more negatively impacted by the sports betting practices, The Gem State’s residents could be at a higher risk of suffering the consequences. 

According to the folks over at World Population Review, Idaho ranks 43 out of 50 states plus the District of Columbia in median household income for the 2025 calendar year. The reported median household income for The Gem State currently sits a hair $36,000. This runs in stark contrast to even the middle of the pack. 

Of course, many will point out that this is all relative to the cost of living. That’s fair. And only eight states have a smaller percentage of residents living beneath the poverty line compared to Idaho. 

Still, online sports betting apps in the USA do not vary their operations by location. Markets and odds aren’t suddenly more favorable. Losses aren’t any cheaper. If anything, losses from Idaho sports betting could stand to be higher. Someone wagering $100 in The Gem State is, generally speaking, risking a larger proportion of their total income than another person doing the same in Maryland, which has the highest median household income in the country.

Can Anything be Done to Lessen the Downsides of Legal Sports Wagering?

This is a question basically every state is left to answer. In fact, states that have already legalized sports wagering are usually taking a longer look at the issue. After all, the downsides will hit them harder just by virtue of the increased betting volume.

No magical panaceas appear to be in the cards. Plenty of states are proposing stricter regulations for and more aggressive transparency from sportsbooks. Massachusetts sports betting regulators have arguably been most aggressive. Legislators have discussed a bill called the “Better Health Act.” This initiative seeks to implement individual gambling limits that require sportsbooks to stage thorough financial background checks.

Perhaps when the industry is deemed safer on a more universal scale we’ll see more clamoring for the legalization of Idaho sports betting. In the meantime, the possibility of legislation in The Gem State feels remote. And that may be putting it charitably.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: