Sports Betting Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Trends, Impacts, and Emerging Themes

International Journal of Economics and Management Studies

© 2025 by SSRG - IJEMS Journal

Volume 12 Issue 9

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Shaury Kulhari

10.14445/23939125/IJEMS-V12I9P105

How to Cite?

Shaury Kulhari, "Sports Betting Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Trends, Impacts, and Emerging Themes," SSRG International Journal of Economics and Management Studies, vol. 12,  no. 9, pp. 48-62, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23939125/IJEMS-V12I9P105

Abstract:

This study attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the global research landscape on sports betting through a bibliometric analysis, complemented by a small exploratory survey. The study utilized a dataset of 933 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus from 2000 to 2025. The analysis has been conducted using VOS viewer, which maps publication trends, co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and thematic clusters. The findings reveal a substantial rise in sports betting research since 2015, largely driven by technological innovations, mobile platforms, and expanding legalization in several regions. Five dominant research themes were identified based on existing research, i.e., economic dynamics and market efficiency, psychological risks and problem gambling, regulatory frameworks and policy challenges, marketing influence and consumer behavior, and integrity, corruption, and emerging technologies. However, the bibliometric analysis highlights several research gaps, including limited contributions from developing regions, underexplored areas such as esports betting, cryptocurrency-driven gambling, and cross-border regulations, and a lack of integrated studies combining economic, psychological, and policy perspectives. To complement these findings, a small survey of 28 U.S.-based participants was conducted, revealing that most engage in betting casually, driven by curiosity, peer influence, and advertising, while some reported emotional stress and behavioral changes, aligning with bibliometric evidence on rising mental health concerns. The study offers practical implications for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders by emphasizing the need for responsible regulation, stricter advertising controls, mental health interventions, and targeted research on emerging betting formats and vulnerable populations.

Keywords:

Bibliometric Analysis, Emerging Trends, Gambling, Regulation, Sports Betting.

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