A Cross-Cultural Study of Weekly Sports Bettors in Australia and Spain

Perceived Impact of Gambling Advertising can Predict Gambling Severity among Patients with Gambling Disorder

There is growing evidence that gambling advertising disproportionately affects those experiencing more severe gambling harm. Such association has been studied by recruiting gamblers using online panels, by analysing registered users' data from gambling websites, and through surveys and focus group interviews. However, it is thought that these methods tend to overestimate gambling severity. The present study employed a sample of gamblers with a verified gambling disorder diagnosis (N = 210, 7.1% females, Mage = 39.4 years) recruited for a period of under two years at a large public hospital. It examined the relationship between self-reported impact of gambling advertising, gambling preference (strategic versus non-strategic) and gambling modality (online versus in-person). The results indicated that higher perceived impact of gambling advertising predicted higher gambling severity, which supports previous findings obtained from non-clinical settings. However, contrary to what was expected, strategic gambling and online gambling were not associated with higher perceived impact of gambling advertising, even though these groups are believed to be exposed to more gambling marketing and advertising from gambling operators. The study aligns well with available scientific evidence proposing further restrictions on gambling advertising regulation due to their disproportionate impact on those already experiencing gambling harm.

Exploring the psychosocial characteristics of women with gambling disorder through a qualitative study

Introduction

Gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction that has been primarily male, but in the last few years, the age of onset has been equated between the sexes. The profile of female gamblers could be different from that of men. Consequently, this study analyzes the testimonies of women with gambling disorder to determine their specific characteristics (gambling motives, gambling preferences, and associated pathologies).

Method

The sample comprises 18 women with gambling disorder aged between 30 and 68. Three discussion groups were held, and a "blind" inductive process was carried out to extract categories. The Atlas.Ti 22.0 program was used to recode and analyze the data.

Results

Results show that women may start gambling due to abuse suffered in childhood, and often family members initiate women into gambling. Likewise, the onset of gambling could be a maladaptive way to manage negative emotions. Also highlighted is the predominance of feelings of social stigmatization, which can be reflected in women's choice of games where they are not visible. Comorbidity with other disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and the use of other substances are noteworthy.

Discussion

The factors explaining why female gamblers do not seek treatment compared to male gamblers are analyzed. More studies on women's experience with gambling are needed to address the specific characteristics of gambling disorder in women.

Clinical Correlates of Sports Betting: A Systematic Review

Sports betting is becoming increasingly widespread, and a growing number of individuals, both adolescents and adults, participate in this type of gambling. The main aim of this systematic review was to assess correlates of sports betting (sociodemographic features, gambling-related variables, co-occurring psychopathologies, and personality tendencies) through a systematic review conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were identified via searches of NCBI/PubMed and APA PsycInfo databases. Individuals from the general population and/or with a clinical diagnosis of gambling disorder (GD) were included, irrespective of gender and age. In addition, the studies needed to have administered at least one clinical interview/psychometric instrument to assess the presence of problematic gambling/GD, contain at least one group of participants with sports betting, and directly analyze the association between sports betting and any of the following features: sociodemographics, gambling-related variables, co-occurring psychopathologies, and/or personality tendencies. Fifty-four articles were included. Multiple sociodemographic variables have been studied in relation to sports betting. In general, males with high impulsivity have greater tendencies for sports betting. The co-occurrence of certain pathologies, especially substance use or other addictive disorders, was also suggested. Most studies were cross-sectional, assessed participants using self-administered instruments, recruited samples using non-probability online panels, included small samples, had unbalanced samples, and included samples from only one country. Impulsive males may be particularly prone to sports gambling and related problems. Future research should examine prevention strategies that may help prevent the development of sport-betting-related GD and other addictive behaviors in vulnerable individuals.

Differences in problem and pathological gambling: A narrative review considering sex and gender

Background and aim

A wide range of studies indicates that men and women with Problem (PrG) and Pathological Gambling (PG) differ in several clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. However, evidence for sex differences, such as the telescoping effect, is contradictory, and it is still unclear whether sex differences observed in offline gambling can also be found for online gambling. Furthermore, reviews have so far focused on binary sex differences but neglect gender aspects. In this study, an updated literature survey of sex- and gender-related differences in PrG and PG was conducted.

Methods

We searched PsyInfo, Medline/Pubmed, and the Web of Science databases from 2005 to 2020 for studies investigating sex and gender differences in gambling. A total of 126 papers were included in the literature survey.

Results

We are presenting our findings according to the categories 'prevalence' (offline, online, LGBTQI*), 'sociodemographic factors', 'preferred gambling type', 'gambling motives', 'severity', 'progression of gambling problems', 'use of professional help/motivation for treatment', 'comorbidity', 'trauma', 'violence and criminality/delinquency'. The studies indicate that, despite some robust sex differences (e.g., concerning prevalence rates), results for most areas were mixed or suggest no sex differences (e.g., violence, gambling motives).

Discussion and conclusion

To date, there is a lack of studies assessing gender, and not only sex, warranting further research in this area.

Correlates of gambling and gambling problems among Rhode Island young adults: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Numerous states in the USA have legalized sports betting due to recent legal decisions by the US Supreme Court. Here, sociodemographic correlates of current gambling and specific gambling activities associated with symptoms of gambling problems were identified.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were obtained from the 2020 Rhode Island Young Adult Survey (RIYAS). RIYAS participants (n = 540) were a convenience sample of 18 to 25 year olds who lived in Rhode Island for at least part of 2020. Data were collected from May to October 2020. Four gambling activities were assessed (i.e. sports betting; betting on races; gaming tables at a casino; poker machines at a casino). Logistic regression models assessed main effects.

RESULTS

22.4% engaged in one or more gambling activities. 11.5% of participants had any gambling problems. Odds of gambling activities were higher among men; Black, Indigenous, People of Color; older young adults; and essential workers. Odds of gambling problems were 2.4 times higher among participants who engaged with sports betting.

CONCLUSIONS

Gambling activities are common among several population subgroups, and participation in sports betting may be a risk factor for the development of problem gambling. Comprehensive prevention policies are needed.

The Gambling Behaviour and Attitudes to Sports Betting of Sports Fans

Survey responses from a sample of nearly 15,000 Australian sports fans were used to study the determinants of: (i) gambling behaviour, including if a person does gamble and the type of gambling engaged with; (ii) the number of sports and non-sports bets made over a 12-month period; and (iii) attitudes towards betting on sports. The probability of betting on sports decreased with increasing age and was lower for women and people with a university education. This gender difference varied with age, with the greatest difference found among the young. Similar effects were observed for the number of sports bets made, which declined with age. The gender difference in the number of sports bets also varied with age with the greatest difference found among the young arising from the high propensity of young men to bet on sports. Attitudes to sports betting were also analysed, with a key finding that, within friendship circles, the views that sports betting is perceived as harmless, common and very much a part of enjoying sports were stronger among young men. These permissive attitudes were stronger among people who bet on sports and those who bet on sports more frequently. The analysis of sports fans provides insights into the characteristics of the target market most likely to bet on sports, which can be used to inform public health initiatives and harm reduction campaigns.

Sportwetten: Spielanreize und Risikopotenziale

In den letzten Jahren haben gravierende Veränderungen auf dem Sportwettmarkt zu einer deutlichen Erhöhung der Spielanreize geführt. Wettoptionen mit hoher Ereignisfrequenz, die Erschließung des Internets als Zugangsmodalität oder die massive Expansion der Werbetätigkeiten legen die Hypothese nahe, dass es sich bei den modernen Formen des Sportwettens nicht mehr nur um harmlose Freizeitangebote handelt. Übergeordnetes Ziel dieses Beitrages ist es, die mit diesem Entwicklungstrend verbundenen zentralen Risikopotenziale zu bestimmen. Die mittels eines narrativen Reviews zusammengestellten Befunde verweisen auf Produktebene primär auf ein hohes Suchtpotenzial von Live-Wetten (inkl. Mikrowetten). Auf personaler Ebene erhöhen insbesondere das männliche Geschlecht, ein junges Lebensalter, eine ausgeprägte Risikoneigung sowie das Vorliegen kognitiver Verzerrungen im Sinne von Kontrollillusionen die Wahrscheinlichkeit, von sportwettbezogenen Problemen betroffen zu sein. Zu den umgebungsbezogenen Risikofaktoren zählen in erster Linie das Setting „Sportverein“ und ein hohes Ausmaß an Werbeexposition. In der Gesamtschau verweisen diese Erkenntnisse somit auf die dringliche Notwendigkeit, diesem Entwicklungstrend präventiv wie regulativ entgegenzusteuern.