Life Satisfaction and Online-Gambling Communities: A Cross-National Study of Gambling Activities Among Young Finnish, American, South Korean and Spanish People

Gambling Disorder among Porto's University Students

BACKGROUND

Gambling disorder is an emerging problem among young adults and must be researched to provide the necessary support. This study aims to characterise gambling disorders in Porto's university students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study distributed an online questionnaire to Porto's university students. The authors developed a self-administered questionnaire that included the South Oaks Gambling Screen questionnaire-Portuguese Version (SOGS-PV).

RESULTS

A total of 1123 responses were included. The participants' average age was 22.4 years (SD = 6.2), and 60.9% were women. Gambling activities were performed by 66.4% of the students, most commonly online or video games, "scratch card" games, skill games, lotteries, and sports bets. The final scores of the SOGS-PV suggested 19.7% (95% CI: 17.4-22.0) of students may have a gambling disorder, with 16.6% (95% CI: 14.4-18.8) being "probable pathological gamblers" and 3.1% (95% CI: 2.1-4.1) being "problem gamblers". Gambling in the stocks/commodities market/virtual coins, sports bets, playing cards for money, and the numbers or betting on lotteries presents a higher risk of gambling disorder. The age (OR: 0.953; 95% CI: 0.922-0.986), being male (OR: 2.756; 95% CI: 1.899-4.000), the highest daily gambling amount (OR: 3.938; 95% CI: 2.580-6.012), the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (OR: 0.129; 95% CI: 0.087-0.191), a mother with gambling disorder (OR: 5.284; 95% CI: 1.038-26.902), the personal services education area (OR: 2.858; 95% CI: 1.179-6.929), and the linguistics education area (OR: 2.984; 95% CI: 1.538-5.788) stand out as contributing factors to the development of this disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals a high level of possible gambling disorder among university students and emphasises the importance of this problem in the academic community. Physician awareness and prevention programmes are needed in this population.

Online Communities and Gambling Behaviors — a Systematic Review

Purpose of Review

The internet and virtual environments have enabled the formation of online communities around a variety of interests. Online communities focused on gambling are increasingly popular and attract users to interact and share ideas and experiences with likeminded others. This study reviews evidence from the latest research examining the role of online communities in gambling behaviors and gambling problems.

Recent Findings

A systematic literature search resulted in 17 studies. Research shows that online communities are used for diverse reasons like discussing gambling experiences and problems, sharing tips, and celebrating winnings with others. These reasons of online community use can have both adaptive and maladaptive implications. Online gambling communities often grow through social means by inviting friends or social media contacts to join. Active users of online gambling communities are more likely at-risk or problem gamblers.

Summary

Online communities have an increasingly central role in learning about gambling, continuing, and spreading of gambling behaviors. Participation in communities that support harmful gambling habits involves risks for problem gambling.