Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
Utilizing the staggered legalization of gambling across states following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, we provide causal evidence of the impact of gambling on mental health. Our results indicate that legalized gambling leads to a 5.5 percentage points decrease – over 11% – in the likelihood of poor mental health for men between 18 and 24, but a 3.8 percentage point increase – nearly 10% – for men between 30 and 34; there is no discernible effect for women.