Journal of Gambling Studies最新文献

Background and aims: Japan has a unique gambling environment compared with other countries: pachinko and pachislot dominate the gambling market and are easily accessible. We investigated the clinical characteristics of treatment-seeking Japanese patients with gambling disorder (GD), focusing on factors related to GD severity.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Japan Collaborative Clinical Study on Gambling Disorder (JaCCS-G), a multicenter collaborative prospective study evaluating the effectiveness of outpatient treatment for GD. Twenty medical institutions with outpatient gambling clinics participated in this study. Individuals with GD who visited participating facilities and were diagnosed with GD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, were included. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess gambling behavior and psychiatric comorbidities. We administered the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale to assess gambling symptom severity, the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale to assess irrational thoughts in GD, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (11th version) (BIS-11) to assess impulsivity.

Results: A total of 202 patients with GD participated in the JACCS-G. Pachinko was the most common type of gambling seen in patients with GD, followed by pachislot and horse racing. BIS-11 total score significantly differed among patients with mild, moderate, and severe GD. Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) was associated with GD severity.

Discussion and conclusions: These results reflect the unique gambling environment in Japan, where pachinko is the most accessible and prevalent form of gambling. Assessing GD severity may help identify individuals with heightened impulsivity or ASPD, enabling more targeted interventions and improved treatment strategies. (249 words).

In literature, there is a lack of multidimensional analyses that examine the co-occurrence of multiple addiction-related behaviors within households. This study aims to fill that gap by identifying the demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with Turkish households in which tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and gambling occur simultaneously, thereby contributing both to academic understanding and to informed policymaking. The study utilizes micro data from the Household Budget Survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute between 2015 and 2019. The probabilities of households engaging in tobacco use, alcohol consumption and gambling behaviors are estimated simultaneously with the Multivariate Probit Model, which also considers correlations among unobservable factors. It has been determined that demographic and socioeconomic factors have separate significant effects on harmful habits. By focusing on the social and cultural dynamics in Türkiye, this study provides insights into harmful habits in households, contains guiding results especially for developing local policies. It has been identified that in Türkiye, deterrent policies for tobacco use should prioritize targeting young, low-educated, high-income males; for alcohol consumption, the focus should be on middle-aged, highly educated, high-income, single males; and for gambling, priority should be given to unemployed, middle-aged, highly educated, high-income, single males.

People with mental health problems are subject to stigmatisation and there is evidence that addictive disorders are particularly stigmatised. Aim of this study was to analyse potential differences in the amount or quality of stigmatisation between substance- and non-substance related addictive disorders. An experimental vignette study was conducted, in which participants of an online survey (N = 2052, 50.4% male, 49.0% female, 0.6% diverse, age: M = 40.7 [SD = 14.92] years) randomly received one of four descriptions of a female or male person with either gambling disorder, alcohol use disorder, internet use disorder or mild depressive symptoms (control condition). Several dimensions of stigmatisation were assessed, including desire for social distance, emotional reactions, assumed dangerousness, blame, categorial thinking and otherness. Results revealed that stigmatisation was highest for gambling and alcohol and significantly lower for the internet vignette. Stigmatisation scores were higher for male compared to female vignettes, independently of vignette content. All three descriptions of addictive disorders received higher stigmatisation than the control condition, though there were differences in the kind of stigmatisation received. Such disparities may be attributable to a range of factors, including the level of familiarity with and preconceived assumptions about the disorders, such as perceiving them as character flaws. Since only a minority of individuals affected by gambling disorder receive therapeutic care in Germany, experiences of stigmatisation might be one of the reasons. Anti-stigma efforts are necessary to reduce the barriers for those affected to seek help.

Cryptocurrency trading is becoming increasingly popular in Türkiye. Problematic cryptocurrency trading (PCT) is considered a public health issue due to its potential psychological and behavioral consequences. This study examined the prevalence of PCT among Turkish investors and its associations with mental health and related risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, 596 male Turkish participants aged between 20 and 63 years (mean = 33.6) were recruited using a purposive online sampling strategy via cryptocurrency-focused social media groups. Participants who actively owned cryptocurrency were assessed using the Problematic Cryptocurrency Trading Scale (PCTS), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). The analysis revealed a PCT prevalence of 26.3%, with significant associations identified between PCT and anxiety, depression, problem gambling, and frequent trading behavior. Logistic regression analysis revealed that problem gambling is the most significant risk factor for the development of problematic cryptocurrency trading (PCT), followed by daily trading activity. Additionally, severe anxiety and marital status were identified as important risk factors. This study highlights the public health significance of PCT and underscores the need for preventive interventions. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating PCT screening into mental health and gambling disorder programs in Türkiye.

Introduction: The prevalence of Irish adolescent gambling is increasing with one quarter of 15-18-year-olds gambling at least once a year. There is little research on Irish adolescent gambling and teacher awareness thereof and this study aimed to fill this gap.

Methods: Eighty-eight teachers in Ireland answered questions regarding their awareness and attitudes about adolescent gambling. Teachers were asked about their perception of the severity of gambling compared to other adolescent issues, their confidence in addressing gambling and the frequency of conversations about gambling with students.

Results: Logistic regression and Cochran's-Q test of association results show that Irish teachers were likely to view adolescent gambling as significantly less serious of an issue compared to other adolescent high-risk behaviors. Teachers were significantly less likely to converse frequently with students about gambling in comparison to other high-risk behaviors, were significantly less confident in their abilities to address student gambling problems when compared to discussing adolescent alcohol problems, and perceived gambling behavior as less problematic than other risky behaviors. Most teachers reported that their school either did not have, or they did not know of, any form of gambling prevention programme within the school.

Conclusions: Irish teachers show moderate awareness of adolescent gambling, with higher accuracy than UK counterparts in identifying problem gambling among younger cohorts. However, low confidence, limited training, and scarce prevention programmes highlight gaps in addressing this issue. Collaboration with external organisations and curriculum enhancements are essential to foster prevention and support student well-being.

Although gambling disorder (GD) may affect romantic relationships, and these may influence its prevention and intervention, there is a gap about this issue in the literature. People with GD present greater emotional dysregulation, and lack of communication and couple satisfaction is observed in their romantic relationships. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were, first, to explore the differences between couple satisfaction, positive communication and emotional dysregulation in individuals with GD and their partners. Second, to analyse the relationships between the variables in GD patients, their partners, and betwen the couple members. Third, to study the predictive role of positive communication and emotional dysregulation in couple satisfaction. The sample comprised 30 people: 15 male individuals with gambling disorder and their respective female partners. Results showed that the partners scored lower in couple satisfaction. Likewise, positive correlations were found between communication and satisfaction, but only the partners' emotional dysregulation significantly correlated with the aforementioned variables. Finally, only positive communication predicted couple satisfaction. Consequently, it is argued that communication and emotion-regulation skills in romantic relationships could influence the development, maintenance, and rehabilitation of GD. Providing comprehensive care that enhances romantic relationships could be beneficial because both individuals can reciprocally influence each other's mental health.

In recent years, gambling has become increasingly embedded in sports culture, a phenomenon known as "gamblification", raising concerns about youth exposure to sports betting. This study explores the role of descriptive norms (perceived peer gambling behavior) and injunctive norms (perceived peer approval) within Flemish sports clubs, assessing their impact on youths' (18-25 year old) online sports betting frequency. Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey (N = 1,290), results indicated that sports club membership is significantly positively correlated with online sports betting frequency, a relation mediated specifically by descriptive norms. However, injunctive norms did not mediate this relationship. The results of this study suggest a need for targeted prevention strategies within sports clubs.

Burgeoning evidence of sports betting harms among young adults highlights the need to refine our understanding of psychosocial processes driving sports betting behavior. This study longitudinally examined sports betting patterns over time within the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM), a dual-process behavioral model comprised of both a reasoned and socially reactive component. Participants included 210 18-29 year olds (77.1% male; mean age 24.5) who reported placing at least two sports bets in the past month (at screening). Participants reported past two-week sports betting frequency (i.e., number of sports bets placed) and PWM cognitions (i.e., attitudes, normative perceptions, perceived vulnerability, prototype similarity, intentions, willingness) on 26 biweekly surveys covering a year-long study period. Findings generally support the PWM's application to sports betting at the within-person level for the reasoned and social reaction pathways. When attitudes and perceived friend approval of sports betting were higher than usual, participants reported greater intentions to sports bet. When prototype similarity and perceived friend engagement in sports betting were higher than usual, participants reported greater willingness to sports bet. Subsequently, intentions and willingness predicted sports betting frequency, reflecting mediation processes. This study provides foundational evidence for the development of adaptive prevention and intervention strategies - grounded in the PWM framework - to address the cognitive processes that facilitate risky sports betting behavior.

Purpose: Concerns have increased about online gambling among adolescents. Poor mental health may place adolescents at increased risk of engagement in online gambling, however, longitudinal evidence is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine how mental health relates to engagement in online gambling one-year later in a large cohort of adolescents.

Methods: We used 2-year prospective survey data from 26,818 students in Grades 9 to 11 (secondary III-IV in Quebec) attending 121 secondary schools in four Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec) who participated in the COMPASS study during the 2017/18, 2018/19, and/or 2019/20 school years. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the likelihood of online gambling one-year later by baseline mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, psychosocial well-being, emotional dysregulation), controlling for student sex, grade, race, weekly spending money, and baseline online gambling.

Results: Online gambling in the past 30-days was reported by 2.1%, 2.3%, and 2.5% of students in study years 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20, respectively. In the combined model, students reporting high depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to report online gambling one-year later (OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.19, 2.09) relative to those reporting low symptoms, controlling for baseline online gambling, the other mental health measures, and sociodemographic characteristics.

Conclusion: This study provides prospective evidence that high depressive symptoms may place adolescents at an elevated risk of future engagement in online gambling. It may be worthwhile targeting students with high depressive symptoms in preventative efforts.