Journal of Gambling Studies最新文献

The 2018 Supreme Court decision allowing state-level sports betting legalization in the United States has raised concerns about its impact on problem gambling risk. This study examined whether legal status predicts problem gambling severity scores while adjusting for demographic characteristics. Data were collected in March-April 2022 from sports bettors in states with legal (n = 974) and illegal (n = 307) sports betting, using the Problem Gambling Severity Index to assess risk levels. While legal status did not significantly predict problem gambling risk, demographic factors emerged as crucial predictors. Age and education consistently predicted risk across both regulatory contexts, with younger bettors and those with lower education showing greater vulnerability. However, other demographic patterns varied by context: females demonstrated higher risk in illegal states while no gender differences emerged in legal states, and single status predicted elevated risk only in legal jurisdictions. These findings indicate that sports betting policy considerations should extend beyond the simple decision to legalize or prohibit, to consider context-specific interventions based on demographic vulnerabilities.

Low financial literacy may contribute to poor financial decision-making and has been investigated as a potential risk factor for problematic gambling. This systematic review examined the association between financial literacy and gambling. PsycInfo, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, SocIndex, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and Proquest Psychology databases were searched for peer-reviewed empirical studies published in English, reporting on the association between financial literacy and gambling frequency and/or problems. 115 studies were retrieved with nine meeting the inclusion criteria. Most studies measured objective financial knowledge (e.g., Big 3 or Big 5), however a few measured subjective confidence in financial matters or both. Sample sizes ranged from a few hundred to tens of thousands. Most studies assessed frequency of gambling as their gambling outcome. Only one study employed a comprehensive measure of problematic gambling behaviour. Financial literacy was generally negatively associated with gambling, although one study reported a positive association. Findings of this review suggest increased financial literacy may be associated with reduced gambling frequency, highlighting potential for financial literacy education interventions to reduce gambling-related harms. However, this conclusion derives from only a handful of cross-sectional studies that are at times limited by incomplete or imprecise reporting, the use of brief financial literacy measures, and a lack of focus on gambling problems in addition to gambling frequency. Further research overcoming these limitations is needed to strengthen confidence in these conclusions.

Although responsible gambling (RG) programs are prevalent as they are legally required in many jurisdictions and are commonly found as part of corporate social responsibility policies, consumers report barriers to and limited employee knowledge about RG resources. Using a secret shopper methodology, two studies explored the accessibility of information about casino RG programs. The two studies sampled all seven casinos located within a southeast United States metropolitan area of 1.3 million people. Study 1 involved contacting each casino by telephone and requesting information from customer services representatives (n = 12), and Study 2 involved visiting casinos in person and requesting information from on-casino floor employees (n = 6), off-casino floor employees (n = 7), and security personnel (n = 7). The information requested through both modalities included (1) general information about RG, (2) the presence of RG resources both in-casino and online, and (3) directions to find RG resources in-casino and online. Study 1 indicated that the accessibility of RG information was unreliable via the telephone. Study 2 indicated that casino employees provided information about RG and in-casino materials but inconsistently provided information about online RG resources. These two studies suggested that casinos could not reliably provide comprehensive RG information. This finding suggests a greater need for governments to hold operators accountable for offering RG programs and for operators to better adhere to corporate social responsibility commitments.

Open banking provides an opportunity to leverage bank transaction data to support gambling harm prevention by providing an objective and comprehensive view of individuals' gambling activities. In this study, we present a large-scale descriptive analysis of gambling transaction activity from an open banking dataset, representing a sample of 1,030,788 users of a credit scoring service in the UK for 2022. The median gambler (n = 650,502) transacted with 2 merchants, made 14 deposits, had a typical debit of £10.00, a net loss of £95.00, and deposited 0.53% of income. Consistent with prior gambling literature, our analyses revealed small groups of gamblers (i.e., about 3%) who displayed disproportionately higher gambling activity based on their frequency of debits, total amount debited, and net loss. Males and younger people were more likely to fall into these high-involvement groups, and group members transacted with significantly more gambling merchants (5 to 6 merchants vs. the median of 2). This study establishes a baseline census of gambling activity from open banking data, offering insights to inform researchers and policymakers about opportunities for harm prevention.

Loss chasing is a defining clinical criterion for Gambling Disorder. Using actual player records, we investigated the potential for a multidimensional loss chasing concept (based on bet size, betting odds, and time between bets) to predict potential gambling harm among online sports bettors (N = 36,331) and daily fantasy sports (DFS) players (N = 34,596). Our main focus was whether optimized thresholds (derived from ROC analysis) for loss chasing yielded greater predictive value than both median-derived thresholds and a natural continuous form. Compared to the other tested forms of chasing, optimized thresholds of loss chasing showed the most promise (i.e., positive and statistically significant effects and improved model fit) for two out of three dimensions (i.e., bet size and odds) for one outcome (i.e., loss trajectory) among sports bettors. For these bettors and outcomes, all three loss chasing dimensions predicted the outcome in isolation; however, grouping all three expressions into a single model yielded poor model fit. Loss chasing effects were less apparent (generally non-significant or in the negative direction) for another outcome (i.e., percent change in net loss) and among DFS players. Still, this study demonstrates the promise of a multidimensional concept of loss chasing, and the potential for optimized thresholds to improve prediction of potential harm-related outcomes.

The existing literature predominantly focuses on clinical conditions related to gambling, with evidence suggesting the co-occurrence of gambling disorders, major depressive disorders, and personality disorders. This study aimed to broaden our understanding beyond clinical conditions by investigating the impact of different gambling activity groups on mental wellbeing. These activity groups were identified using latent class analysis, which enabled a person-centered approach to examine the types and the number of gambling activities as well as expenditure levels, as a single latent variable. Based on the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, our findings suggested that gambling activity groups were associated with reduced mental wellbeing through problem gambling symptoms. Among respondents with the same levels of problem gambling symptoms and age, men who engaged in multiple gambling activities with high spending tended to have better mental wellbeing than those primarily gambling on lotteries. In contrast, women's mental wellbeing did not differ across gambling activity groups. This study clarifies the roles of problem gambling symptoms and gambling activity groups in reduced mental wellbeing. Gambling activity groups featuring multiple activities, high spending, and electronic gaming machines (EGMs) were related to problem gambling symptoms. This study shifts the focus from examining how gambling influences specific mental health conditions or symptoms to exploring its impact on overall mental wellbeing. The empirical evidence supports the expansion of targeted, evidence-based strategies beyond treatments to preventive measures that promote mental wellbeing.

Gambling among college students is a growing public health concern, with approximately 10.2% experiencing problem gambling and 6.1% meeting criteria for gambling disorder. These rates are significantly higher than those in the general adult population. The transitional nature of college life, combined with increased independence, peer influence, and the widespread availability of online gambling platforms, places students at heightened risk. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed at reducing gambling behaviors among college students. This systematic review evaluated RCTs published over the past 25 years targeting gambling behaviors among college students. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across four databases to assess the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic, psychoeducational, and personalized feedback interventions. A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI) consistently reduced gambling frequency and harm. Personalized normative feedback (PNF) interventions significantly lowered perceived gambling norms and self-reported behaviors. Technology-driven strategies, including smartphone-based interventions and pop-up messages prompting time limits, improved accessibility and reduced gambling duration. Group-based CBT interventions demonstrated particular effectiveness through peer accountability and skill-building. However, gaps remain in addressing online gambling behaviors, cultural adaptability, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Evidence supports the efficacy of CBT, MI, and PNF-based interventions in reducing gambling among college students. Digital and group-based approaches show promise for scalability. Future public health interventions should address the unique risks of online gambling and integrate mental health support. OSF Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/D97QX .

This study investigates how perceived legality of online sports betting influences perceptions of consumer protection, behavioral control, and future betting intentions. Employing general linear modeling (GLM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analyses (fsQCA), we assess these relationships across different types of online betting activities and among varying levels of betting experience. Results revealed that participants who perceived online sports betting as legal reported higher levels of perceived consumer protection, perceived behavioral control, and future betting intentions. The fsQCA identified specific configurations leading to high future betting intentions. Notably, two configurations emerged: (1) bettors who perceive betting as legal, participate in Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), and have high perceived behavioral control; and (2) bettors involved in prop pick'em wagering with high perceived consumer protection and high perceived behavioral control. This study highlights the importance of perceived legality, consumer protection, and behavioral control in shaping consumer perceptions and intentions with online sports betting. The identification of specific factor combinations suggests that regulatory and policy efforts should consider the multifaceted nature of consumer behavior in online sports betting. Tailored strategies that enhance legal consciousness, strengthen consumer protection measures, and empower bettors can more effectively promote responsible gaming practices.

This research examines the role of material values, financial well-being, and monetary motivation in shaping gambling behavior in young male sports bettors in Türkiye. A total of 562 participants aged 18-35 were surveyed using validated scales measuring materialism, financial well-being, gambling motives, and sports betting severity. Through latent profile analysis, four distinct profiles were identified: Stability-Oriented Participants, Instability-Driven Risk Takers, Financially Content-Low-Risk Bettors, and Financially Pressured-Materialistic Bettors. ANCOVA results indicated a significant difference in the severity of sports betting across profiles (η² = 0.35), with the most problematic behavior occurring in those with high materialism, low financial well-being, and strong monetary motives. The results were interpreted through the lenses of Contingent Self-Worth Theory, Prospect Theory, and Self-Regulation Theory, and situated within Türkiye's socioeconomic context. This person-centered study makes unique contributions by revealing psychological and structural patterns underlying gambling behavior and offering practical applications for clinical, educational, and policy-level interventions.

Since the federal ban on sports betting was lifted in 2018, the industry has grown rapidly in the United States, raising concerns about the risk of problem gambling. Building on existing research that suggests the limited effectiveness of traditional responsible gambling campaigns, the current study examines whether the use of celebrity endorsers in advertising can enhance responsible gambling intentions. Using a scenario-based experiment with 383 U.S. sports bettors, regression analyses reveal that an endorser whose image aligns with the target audience increases consumer awareness of responsible gambling messages, thereby enhancing intentions to gamble responsibly. In addition, an image-congruent endorser boosts consumers' betting intentions and word-of-mouth advocacy for the sportsbook. Although image congruence in advertising is often operationalized through racial similarity, the findings suggest that same-race endorsers are effective in enhancing image congruence only when sports betting is perceived as socially acceptable. This study is the first to examine the effect of endorser-consumer image congruence on consumer intentions toward both sports betting brands and responsible gambling. The findings provide important insights to sportsbooks aiming to balance branding and social responsibility in marketing campaigns.