Abstract
BackgroundOnline gambling has increased in recent years, including online casino games and live sports betting which constitute rapid gambling activities with significant potential for gambling-related harm. There is a paucity of research examining whether specific gambling patterns are related to problem gambling and over-indebtedness, when controlling for psychological distress, gender, and other risk factors.MethodsA general population-based web panel of 1,004 online gamblers were examined in an online survey addressing problem gambling symptoms (the PGSI), psychological distress (Kessler- 6), past 30-day gambling activities, past 30-day gambling losses, history of subjective over-indebtedness and expected over-indebtedness in the near future, as well as socio-demographic data.ResultsIn logistic regression analyses, problem gambling was associated with psychological distress, recent online casino gambling, and recent combined online casino gambling and live sports betting. History of over-indebtedness was associated with recent combined online casino gambling and live sports betting, and expected over-indebtedness was associated with online casino gambling. Problem gambling, and a history of having borrowed money for gambling, were markedly higher in online casino gamblers, compared to subjects not reporting this gambling activity. Problem gambling was markedly more common in women, but was not associated with gender in the adjusted analysis.ConclusionsIn online gamblers, high rates of problem gambling and over-indebtedness were seen, and online casino gambling (alone or in combination with live sports betting), was associated with remarkably increased risk. Gender distribution of problem gamblers was clearly in contrast to that found in previous problem gambling literature. These findingsa suggest regulations in the market of online casino gambling, and prevention of over-indebtedness in gambling-related borrowing, in consumer credit counselling and in mental health care. In particular, female gender may need to be addressed as a stronger risk factor than previously described.
Highlights
Online gambling has increased in recent years, including online casino games and live sports betting which constitute rapid gambling activities with significant potential for gambling-related harm
The present study examined over-indebtedness and problem gambling in online gamblers, in a sample defined by the reporting of having gambled on either online casino or sports betting, the two gambling activities reported to be the most common in the gambling disorder treatment setting, on at least ten occasions during the past year
The main findings demonstrate a very high prevalence of problem gambling in individuals gambling in these gambling activities, and very high rates of over-indebtedness, with large differences depending on the recent gambling activities reported
Summary
Online gambling has increased in recent years, including online casino games and live sports betting which constitute rapid gambling activities with significant potential for gambling-related harm. There is a paucity of research examining whether specific gambling patterns are related to problem gambling and over-indebtedness, when controlling for psychological distress, gender, and other risk factors. Gamblingrelated problems may have severe consequences for the individual, including financial debts [6], suicidal ideation, suicide attempts [7], and an increased risk of completed suicide [8]. A recent study demonstrated that problem gambling may lead to psychological distress both through a direct pathway, and through a pathway mediated via financial debts [9], demonstrating the important role of debts in the problem pattern described in patients with a gambling disorder. Financial debts contribute to psychological distress and suicidal behavior independent of gambling disorder [10, 11]. Over-indebtedness, which refers to an incapacity to fulfil payback requirements, is associated with depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation [12], and sleeping problems [13]
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