Trust in Internet gambling and its association with problem gambling in university students

Abstract

The Internet has become a major means of accessing a variety of gambling activities. As a result, there is concern that the Internet may provide more opportunities for consumers to engage in problematic gambling behaviours. The current study examined factors related to Internet gambling and problem gambling in a university student sample (N = 325). Measures included the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the DSM-IV-TR-Based Questionnaire, the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, and a questionnaire examining Internet gambling behaviours and trust. Internet gamblers (n = 53) reported significantly higher levels of trust in Internet gambling sites than non-Internet gamblers (n = 182) and non-gamblers (n = 90). Among Internet gamblers, significant predictors of problem gambling included level of trust in Internet gambling sites, negative effects of this activity on academic achievement and class attendance, and alcohol consumption while gambling on the Internet. Implications of these findings are discussed.