Are esports bettors a new generation of harmed gamblers? A comparison with sports bettors on gambling involvement, problems, and harm

Background and aimsEsports betting is expanding in popularity, yet little is known about who participates in this niche gambling activity. This study aimed to determine whether esports bettors are more vulnerable to harms and problems than gamblers engaged in traditional sports betting.MethodsData were collected from 298 regular esports bettors and 300 sports bettors (who regularly bet on traditional sports, but not esports). These groups were compared on demographics, gambling involvement, problem gambling, and gambling-related harms.ResultsCompared to sports bettors, esports bettors were more likely to be younger, university-educated, employed (lower income earners), and speak a non-English language at home. Esports bettors gambled on fewer traditional gambling activities in the last 12 months, but compared to sports bettors, gambled more frequently on some activities, were more likely to meet problem gambler criteria (64.8.% vs 17.3%), and experience at least one gambling-related harm (81.9% vs 45.3%). Being an esports bettor significantly predicted greater problem gambling severity and gambling-related harms. More frequent esports skin betting and skin gambling (on games of chance) were significant predictors of gambling problems amongst esports bettors.Discussion and conclusionThe results provide preliminary evidence that esports bettors are more likely to experience gambling problems compared to their sports betting counterparts, potentially stemming from their involvement in emerging video-game related gambling products.

Relationships Between Exposure to Different Gambling Advertising Types, Advertising Impact and Problem Gambling

People with gambling problems report more exposure and impact from gambling advertising, although less is known regarding the role of specific advertising types. Data on gamblers (n = 5830, 48.5% women, mean age = 44.27) was collected from a general population cross-sectional survey in Norway (32.7% response rate). We examined if problem gambling was associated with perceived advertising impact (on gambling involvement, awareness, and knowledge) or exposure (via internet, TV, retail outlet, newspaper, and direct advertising). We also investigated if advertising exposure was associated with advertising impact. ANOVAs revealed that problem gambling was associated with increased perceived advertising impact on gambling involvement (ω2 = 0.09, p < .001) and awareness of gambling (ω2 = 0.04, p < .001). Reported exposure to direct advertising increased linearly with problem gambling level (ω2 = 0.04, p < .001), whereas we found small/no differences in exposure to other types of advertising. Multiple regressions revealed that among advertising types, internet advertising was the strongest predictor of perceived advertising impact on gambling involvement (β = 0.1, p < .001). TV advertising was the strongest predictor of advertising impact on knowledge of gambling forms and operators (β = 0.28, p < .001) and awareness of gambling (β = .05, p < .05). Future studies should elucidate how different subtypes of internet advertising impact gambling involvement. Clinicians should assess clients’ experiences with direct advertising and devise interventions for coping. Researchers should be aware that internet and direct advertising allow for more tailored content compared to other advertising types.

Gambling in adolescents during the financial crisis in Greece

Problem gambling emerges as a serious and ever growing problem of modern societies, largely affecting adolescents as well. The etiology of gambling disorder is complex and multifaceted as it is governed by multiple and interrelated factors. In this context and in light of the pervasive financial crisis in Greece, we conducted a study in order to explore adolescents’ gambling involvement in Athens region and also to identify the socio-economic characteristics of adolescents who have engaged into gambling activities. Students were recruited from a sample of schools in Athens area. For the assessment of gambling involvement in adolescents, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV Multiple Response Adapted for Juveniles Questionnaire (DSM-IV-MR-J) was administered. Additional self-constructed questions enquired about students’ socio-demographic and economic characteristics. Our results indicate that adolescents that had problem with gambling or had at least one pathological item on DSM were more likely to be boys and to have been born in a country other than Greece. Additionally, the proportion of those having at least one pathological item on DSM was greater in those with low school grades. Τhe lack of food in the household due to inability of providing food during the last month was significantly associated with both having problem with gambling and having at least one pathological item on DSM. Furthermore, having been worried that there would not be enough food during the last month and having been fed with a restrained variety of food due to lack of recourses were associated with at least one pathological item on DSM. These findings are congruent with the literature suggesting that youth living under poverty often resort to gambling. In conclusion, our results point out the adverse effects of the financial crisis on the development of problem gambling in adolescents within the Greek society. Problem gambling may have developed in response to the ubiquitous insecurity characterizing the Greek society during this rough time period. Interventions should prioritize endowing adolescents with the necessary coping skills for dealing with daily obstacles or life adversities productively and without losing their self-control.

Training gamblers to re-think their gambling choices: How contextual analytical thinking may be useful in promoting safer gambling

Background and aimsHarmful gambling has been associated with the endorsement of fallacious cognitions that promote excessive consumption. These types of beliefs stem from intuitively derived assumptions about gambling that are fostered by fast-thinking and a lack of objective, critical thought. The current paper details an experiment designed to test whether a four-week online intervention to strengthen contextual analytical thinking in gamblers is effective in changing gamblers cognitions and encouraging safer gambling consumption.MethodsNinety-four regular gamblers who reported experiencing gambling-related harm were randomly allocated to either an experimental (n = 46) or control condition (n = 48), including 45 males, ranging from 19 to 65 years of age (M = 36.61; SD = 9.76). Following baseline measurement of gambling beliefs and prior week gambling consumption, participants in the experimental condition were required to complete an adaption of the Gamblers Fallacy Questionnaire designed to promote analytical thinking by educating participants on common judgement errors specific to gambling once a week for four weeks. Post-intervention measures of beliefs and gambling consumption were captured in week five.ResultsThe experimental condition reported significantly fewer erroneous cognitions, greater endorsement of protective cognitions, and reduced time spent gambling post-intervention compared to baseline. The control group also reported a reduction in cognitions relating to predicting and controlling gambling outcomes.ConclusionCognitive interventions that encourage gamblers to challenge gambling beliefs by reflecting on gambling involvement and promoting critical thinking may be an effective tool for reducing the time people invest in gambling activities.

Substitution behaviors among casino gamblers during COVID-19 precipitated casino closures

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the closure of licensed casinos throughout the United States of America in March and April 2020. This study sought to examine how Americans who gamble responded to the COVID-19 lockdown, including migration to online gambling, and changes in substance use and use of other technologies. On April 9, 2020, we conducted an online cross-sectional study of 424 Americans who have gambled in the last three months. Self-reported changes in online gambling and other addictive behaviors since the onset of COVID-19 and problem gambling severity were measured. Overall, online gambling decreased following the onset of COVID-19 casino closures, while alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use increased among gamblers. Among gamblers who reported no online gambling involvement prior to COVID-19, 15% reported migrating to online gambling. These migrators had higher levels of problem gambling and lower income than gamblers who had never gambled online. The response to COVID-19 is heterogeneous: the majority of gamblers reported reducing their online gambling but increased their substance use. A minority of vulnerable gamblers substituted casino gambling with online gambling. Because these individuals are characterized by problem gambling symptoms and lower income, they may be considered a vulnerable group.

The Prevalence of E-Gambling and of Problem E-Gambling in Poland

This study estimated the levels of involvement in e-gambling and problem e-gambling in Poland and identified selected sociodemographic variables associated with e-gambling activities. The study was conducted using a representative sample of the adult inhabitants of Poland (n = 2000). The survey contained questions measuring three aspects of gambling (involvement in e-gambling, types of e-gambling activity, and problematic e-gambling). Results suggested that 4.1% of respondents were involved in e-gambling and 26.8% of them could be classified as problem gamblers. The most popular e-gambling games were lotteries and sports betting. Gender, age, size of city of residence, level of education, and income were identified as significant predictors of involvement in e-gambling. The results indicated that men, younger people, and people who earnt less were more often involved in e-gambling. Having children, playing online scratch cards, and online sport betting—but not online lotteries—turned out to be typical for problem online gamblers. The prevalence of problem gambling among Polish e-gamblers suggests that extended research in this area is needed.

Gambling Expansion and Its Association with Disordered Gambling Trends

This chapter focuses on the empirical, data-driven research pertaining to the public health issue of whether or not gambling expansion significantly alters the prevalence rate of disordered gambling and how this research can inform responsible gambling policies and practices. It is a legitimate public health concern that the expansion of gambling opportunities will contribute not just to increases in the prevalence rate of those who gamble and in gambling involvement (e.g., number of days gambling) but also to an increase in the rate of disordered gambling. This latter point is the central issue of this chapter. The authors rely on recent and peer-reviewed publications, although at times “gray” publications (i.e., government reports not in the peer-reviewed literature) are included.