Abstract
Background and Aims: Internet gambling has recently grown in popularity, but relatively little is known about how online and the combination of online and offline (mixed) gambling are associated with gambling disorder (GD) and related problems. The present research examined in a cohort study sample of young Swiss men how their gambling activities and gambling-related problems differed across the spectrum from offline to online gambling.Sample: A general-population based sample from the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF), consisting of 5,352 young Swiss men (mean age 28.26 years old).Measures: The spectrum from exclusively offline to almost exclusively online (>90% of gambling money spent online) gambling was measured using one question about the proportion of gambling money spent online. Total money gambled and time spent on gambling were also assessed. GD severity (range 0–9) was measured using items reflecting the nine DSM-5 GD criteria. The number of gambling-related problems (e.g., financial difficulties, range 0–10), other addictive disorders and mental health problems were also inquired about.Methods: We estimated a generalised linear model using a count model (negative binomial link function) for GD severity and gambling-related problems associated with the amounts and proportions of money gambled online and offline.Results: The number of GD criteria were associated with money gambled online (IRR [95%CI] = 2.81 [2.43, 3.24]) and offline (IRR = 2.68 [2.40, 3.00]). This was also found for the number of gambling-related problems (IRR = 2.43 [2.13, 2.79] and IRR = 2.89 [2.59, 3.23]). Compared with exclusively-offline gamblers, mixed gamblers (26–90% of money gambled online) showed the highest levels of GD symptoms and gambling-related problems, followed by the almost-exclusively-online gamblers (≥91% money gambled online) and, overall, these associations were still significant after adjustment for overall involvement in gambling (time spent and money gambled). Levels of other addictive disorders and mental health problems were higher among mixed gamblers than among offline-only gamblers, but levels among almost-exclusively-online gamblers were not.Conclusions: Symptoms of gambling disorder and gambling related problems are highest among gamblers engaging in both offline and online gambling. Prevention efforts need to target the combination of offline and online gambling.
Highlights
Gambling is a common leisure activity in Switzerland, with 69.0% of the general adult population being lifetime gamblers and 55.0% having gambled in the last 12 months [1]
The present research used a sample from a large cohort study of young Swiss men to investigate whether the proportion of online gambling activities was associated with symptoms of gambling disorder (GD), gambling-related problems, other addictive disorders and indicators of mental health
We used two complementary analytical approaches to investigate the associations between involvement in online gambling and gambling-related problems in a large general-population sample of young Swiss men
Summary
Gambling is a common leisure activity in Switzerland, with 69.0% of the general adult population being lifetime gamblers and 55.0% having gambled in the last 12 months [1]. The present research used a sample from a large cohort study of young Swiss men to investigate whether the proportion of online gambling activities was associated with symptoms of gambling disorder (GD), gambling-related problems, other addictive disorders and indicators of mental health. After a decade-long legislative process, the tables have turned: access to online gambling services based outside Switzerland was outlawed in 2019 and, instead, domestic casinos were given licences to offer online gambling services [2]. The present research examined in a cohort study sample of young Swiss men how their gambling activities and gambling-related problems differed across the spectrum from offline to online gambling. Sample: A general-population based sample from the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF), consisting of 5,352 young Swiss men (mean age 28.26 years old). The number of gambling-related problems (e.g., financial difficulties, range 0–10), other addictive disorders and mental health problems were inquired about
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