British Gambling Prevalence Survey Research Articles

Exploring Sports Betting Prevalence, Patterns, Effects, And Associated Factors Among Undergraduate Students in a Nigerian University — A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: The rise of legalized gambling, fueled by technology and social media, has transformed betting into a risky economic activity that promises income. In Nigeria, sports betting has become increasingly popular among youths, particularly university students, with easy online access contributing to its prevalence. However, inadequate awareness of its risks and impact on academics persists due to the perception that sports betting lacks overt physical manifestations. Research is needed to increase understanding of sports betting's patterns, correlates, and impact, especially among undergraduates. AIMS: This study aimed to shed light on the prevalence, patterns, and implications of sports betting among undergraduates at the University of Calabar, to foster comprehensive solutions to address its negative consequences on academic performance and overall well-being. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on undergraduate students of a federal University in Nigeria. Multistage randomized sampling was utilized to recruit 406 participants for the study. Seventeen departments were selected using simple random sampling, and one class was chosen from each department through balloting, resulting in a total of 17 classes. Proportional allocation was used to determine the number of participants required from each class, and systematic sampling was employed to select the participants. Data was collected using a standardized questionnaire adapted from the British Gambling Prevalence Survey, with the Problem Gambling Severity Index used to assess the prevalence of problem gambling and the effects of sports betting on bettors. Motivations for sports betting were assessed using the Reasons for Gambling Questionnaire. The impact of sports betting on academics was evaluated using a separate set of questions. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26; p-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Out of 406 undergraduate respondents, 36.7% had engaged in sports betting, with 30.3% participating in the past year. Among past-year gamblers, 21.9% bet as frequently as 2-3 days a week, 18.7% bet 2-3 days a month, and 15.40% bet daily. Football was the preferred sport for 95.9% of sports bettors. Two-thirds of past-year gamblers used online platforms for betting, while 32.5% utilized land-based venues. Most sports bettors (87.8%) were motivated by monetary consideration, while 10.5% did so out of fear of missing out. Advertisements influenced 56.1% of respondents' decisions to place bets. Problem gambling prevalence was 14.3% in the study population and 47.2% among past-year gamblers. Negative academic impacts were reported by 64.2% of past-year gamblers. In bivariate analysis, a p-value <0.05 was considered significant, and age, sex, and monthly income had a significant relationship with lifetime gambling prevalence. Sex and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with problem gambling. Regular gambling was significantly related to academic performance. CONCLUSION: Gambling is prevalent among undergraduates and a significant proportion develop addictive disorders like problem gambling requiring mental health rehabilitation. This study underscores the necessity of interventions, regulations, and support services to tackle the prevalence and consequences of sports betting among students. Recommendations include education campaigns, age verification, financial literacy programs, and support groups to empower students and address potential negative impacts.

The association between problem gambling and psychotic experiences: Findings from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007

BackgroundStudies on the association between psychotic experiences (PEs) and problem gambling are lacking. Thus, we examined the association between PEs and problem gambling in the general UK population. MethodsThis study used community-based, cross-sectional data from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) (n = 7403). Ten items from the DSM-IV criteria and the British Gambling Prevalence Survey studies were used to ascertain problem gambling among individuals who gambled in the past 12 months. Respondents were classified as no problem (0 criteria), at-risk (1 or 2 criteria) and problem gambling (≥3 criteria). Past 12-month PE was assessed with the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between gambling status (exposure variable) and PE (outcome variable). ResultsThe final sample consisted of 7363 people aged ≥16 years with no definite or probable psychosis [mean (SD) age 46.4 (18.6) years; 51.2% females]. The prevalence of PE in those with no problem, at-risk, and problem gambling were 5.1%, 11.1%, and 29.7%, respectively. In the model adjusted for sociodemographics, common mental disorders and risky health behaviors, at-risk (OR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.11–3.19) and problem gambling (OR = 4.64; 95% CI: 1.78–12.13) were associated with an increased odds for PE. ConclusionProblem gambling and PE tend to co-exist. Further research is needed to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the association observed.

Understanding the Relationship Between Subjective Wellbeing and Gambling Behavior

This paper examines the relationship between gambling behavior and subjective wellbeing. It is often asserted that populations consist of different types of gamblers: those for whom gambling is a harmless leisure activity and those (pathological/problem gamblers) for whom the activity has harmful effects. One might, therefore, assume that subjective wellbeing will be negativity associated with an individual’s level of gambling addiction. Alternatively, gamblers may choose to gamble because they derive utility from participating in this activity and so the relationship between happiness and gambling might be positively correlated. In this paper we test this association, empirically, using data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey. The statistically significant findings from this analysis support the hypothesis that individual wellbeing falls as gambling disorder increases.

The Extent and Distribution of Gambling-Related Harms and the Prevention Paradox in a British Population Survey.

ObjectivesTo examine whether the “prevention paradox” applies to British individuals in relation to gambling-related harm.MethodsData were derived from 7,756 individuals participating in the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010, a comprehensive interview-based survey conducted in Great Britain between November 2009 and May 2010. Gambling-related harm was assessed using an adapted version of the DSM-IV Pathological Gambling criteria. The previous year’s prevalence of problem gamblers was examined using the Problem Gambling Severity Index. Gambling involvement was measured by gambling frequency and gambling participation (gambling volume as expressed by time and money spent gambling).ResultsThe prevalence rates for past-year gambling harms were dependence harm (16.4%), social harm (2.2%), and chasing losses (7.9%). Gambling-related harms were distributed across low- to moderate-risk gamblers (and not limited to just problem gamblers) and were reported by the majority of gamblers who were non-high time and spend regular gamblers than high time and spend regular gamblers.ConclusionsThe prevention paradox is a promising way of examining gambling-related harm. This suggests that prevention of gambling might need to consider the population approach to minimizing gambling harm.

The silver linings of lottery play: motivation and subjective well-being of British lottery participants

ABSTRACTAlthough certain researchers have attributed widespread lottery play to irrational beliefs that people hold regarding the chances of winning the lottery, another explanation for the popularity of lottery gambling is that lottery players may experience positive emotions before the draw. Therefore, in this study, we examine the relationship between lottery participation and happiness. Using data from the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010 and utilizing propensity score matching methods, we find a small positive effect of lottery participation on happiness for individuals who engage in lottery play for recreational purposes.

Validation of the 8-item Attitudes Towards Gambling Scale (ATGS-8) in a British population survey

IntroductionPublic opinions concerning gambling are an important factor in shaping public policy. Little empirical attention has been given to assessing gambling attitudes within the general population. The aim of the present study is to validate the 8-item Attitudes Towards Gambling Scale (ATGS-8) in British individuals and to investigate associations of these attitudes with frequency of gambling and gambling problems. MethodsData were derived from 7746 individuals participating in the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010, a comprehensive interview-based survey conducted in Great Britain between November 2009 and May 2010. Confirmatory factor analysis and separate regression analyses were applied. ResultsThe one-dimensional structure of the ATGS-8 was confirmed in the community sample and by gender. Furthermore, more positive attitudes towards gambling were positively related to frequency of gambling and gambling problems. ConclusionsThe present study extends the previous evaluations of the scale by providing detailed evidence for the utility and usefulness of the ATGS-8 in a community sample and across gender. The ATGS-8 is a valid instrument to assess public opinion on gambling among the general population.

Validation of the reasons for gambling questionnaire (RGQ) in a British population survey

IntroductionThe aims of the study are to validate and further psychometrically test the five-dimensional structure of the Reasons for Gambling Questionnaire (RGQ), and to test the differences between different types of gamblers (i.e., offline gamblers who gambled in-person only vs. mixed-mode gamblers who gambled both online and offline) on the five dimensions of the RGQ. MethodsData from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) were used. The analyzed data comprised 5677 individuals (52.7% female; mean age=47.64years; SD=17.82). Confirmatory factor analysis and independent-sample t-tests were applied. ResultsThe five-dimensional structure of the RGQ was confirmed in the general sample and among gender and age subgroups. Furthermore, mixed-mode gamblers (MMGs) who gambled both online and offline had higher scores for enhancement, recreation and money motives than offline gamblers that gambled in-person only (IPGs). In addition among males, there was a significant difference in the scores for enhancement and recreation motives across MMGs and IPGs. Among past-year gamblers aged 16–34years, MMGs had higher scores for enhancement, recreational and monetary motives than IPGs while among past-year gamblers aged 35–55years, MMGs had higher scores for enhancement and recreational motives than IPGs. ConclusionsThe results are consistent with a previous test of the RGQ and the findings indicate that the RGQ is a valid instrument to assess gambling motives among the general population.

SY17-3 * WORKING TOWARDS A HARM INDEX IN PROBLEM GAMBLING: DOES TYPE OF PLAY AND LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT DETERMINE SEVERITY OF PRESENTATION? A UK STUDY (HARM INDEX STUDY 1)

Introduction. Data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) estimated that in the United Kingdom, the prevalence of problem gambling was about 0.9%. Amongst the general population, the most popular types of gambling are poker, dog races, slot machines and casino games. Previous international research emphasized that some forms of gambling are more “addictive” than others, with online gambling and gaming machines presenting with a higher association to gambling disorder. More recently, in the last year, research has shown that we should shift our attention from type of gambling to level of involvement in a number of different types of gambling activities. Method. We analyzed data from 736 patients assessed at the National Problem Gambling Clinic during a period of two years (2011–2012) and report the characteristics of the treatment seeking population. Result. We compare gamblers' activities and the level of involvement in relation to the severity of presentation of gambling symptoms.

On the latent structure of problem gambling: a taxometric analysis.

To test whether problem gambling is a categorical or dimensional disorder on the basis of two problem gambling assessments. This distinction discriminates between two different conceptualizations of problem gambling: one that problem gambling is defined by its addictive properties, the other that it is a continuum of harm. Using The British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010, a nationally representative sample of the United Kingdom conducted by the National Centre for Social Research, five different taxometric analyses were carried out on cases from two problem gambling screens: the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and a measure derived from the DSM-IV Pathological Gambling criteria. Two further analyses were conducted on the total scores for these measures. There was strong evidence that both scales were measuring a categorical construct. Fit indices consistently supported a categorical interpretation [comparison curve fit index (CCFI) > 0.6]. The PGSI analysis indicated the presence of a taxon (CCFIs = 0.633, 0.756). The analysis conducted on the adapted DSM-IV criteria indicated stronger quantitative support for a taxon (CCFIs = 0.717, 0.811 and 0.756) but items probing a loss of control were inconsistent. The taxometric analyses of both scales support a categorical interpretation (CCFIs = 0.628, 0.567), but extreme caution should be used due to high nuisance covariance. Two problem gambling screens (the Problem Gambling Severity Index and a measure derived from the DSM-IV Pathological Gambling criteria) appear to measure a categorical construct that taps into a categorical, loss of control model of problem gambling. There is some evidence that the two screens measure different aspects of an addiction construct.

Gambling Motives: Application of the Reasons for Gambling Questionnaire in an Australian Population Survey

The Reasons for Gambling Questionnaire (RGQ) consist of 15 items forming five factors: enhancement, social, money, recreation and coping. The RGQ was developed for use in the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) and has now been employed in the second Social and Economic Impact Study (SEIS) of Gambling in Tasmania study conducted in 2011 in Australia. Given differences between Britain and Australia in terms of socio-demographic profiles, gambling cultures and attitudes, gambling access and availability, gambling regulation, and rates and patterns of gambling participation, the aims of this study were to analyse the RGQ data from the SEIS to: (1) determine the most commonly endorsed gambling motives in an Australian jurisdiction, (2) explore the factor structure of the RGQ in an Australian sample, and (3) explore how motives for gambling vary among different Australian population sub-groups. A representative sample of the Tasmanian population who had gambled in the previous 12 months (n = 2,796) were administered the RGQ via computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The five most commonly endorsed reasons for gambling were for fun (62%), followed by the chance of winning big money (52%), it being something to do with friends and family (48%), to be sociable (40%), and excitement (38%). A principal component analysis revealed a five-factor structure that is slightly different from that derived in the BGPS: money, regulate internal state, positive feelings, social, and challenge reasons. Finally, gambling motives varied according to socio-demographic factors, number of gambling activities, problem gambling severity, and participation on different gambling activities. Although some of these findings are consistent with those from the BGPS, there are also some slight differences, suggesting that there may be regional-specific variations in gambling motives.

Rates of Problematic Gambling in a British Homeless Sample: A Preliminary Study

Homelessness and problem gambling are two public health concerns in the UK that are rarely considered concurrently, and little is known about the extent of gambling involvement and problematic gambling in the homeless. We recruited 456 individuals attending homelessness services in London, U.K. All participants completed a screen for gambling involvement, and where gambling involvement was endorsed, the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was administered. The PGSI risk categories were compared against data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS). PGSI problem gambling was indicated in 11.6% of the homeless population, compared to 0.7% in the BGPS. Of participants endorsing any PGSI symptoms, a higher proportion of homeless participants were problem gamblers relative to the low and moderate risk groups, compared to the BGPS data. These results confirm that the homeless constitute a vulnerable population for problem gambling, and that diagnostic tools for gambling involvement should be integrated into homelessness services in the U.K.

Exploring the relationship between gambling, debt and financial management in Britain

The issue of how and why gamblers end up in debt has received comparatively little attention in the literature. Data from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) revealed that although problem gamblers were more likely than non-problem gamblers to have forms of financial debt, just under two-thirds of problem gamblers (62%) reported having no debt. Using a qualitative approach, this study aimed to explore the issue from the perspective of gamblers themselves through interviews with 27 purposively sampled gamblers drawn from participants who took part in the APMS and the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010. Analysis, using the Framework method, suggested the existence of four kinds of gamblers categorized by their approach to gambling spending and their approach to their general spending: ‘controlled gamblers’, ‘uncontrolled gamblers’, ‘uncontrolled spenders’ and ‘chaotic spenders’. Also proposed on the basis of these data is an ecological model which aims to capture the different levels of personal and environmental factors that influenced people's financial decisions, including cognitive factors, control and compulsion, normative spending, resource and financial management, and the credit environment. The implications for practice are also discussed.

The irrelevancy of game-type in the acquisition, development, and maintenance of problem gambling

Although most people gamble occasionally for fun and pleasure, gambling brings with it inherent risks of personal and social harm. According to the most recent British Gambling Prevalence Survey there are ~350,000 problem gamblers in the UK which equates to just under 1% of the adult population (Wardle et al., 2011). Problem and pathological gambling can negatively affect significant areas of a person's life, including their physical and mental health, employment, finances, and interpersonal relationships (e.g., family members, financial dependents) (Griffiths, 2004). Furthermore, there are significant co-morbidities with problem gambling, including depression, alcoholism, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors (Petry et al., 2005; Desai and Potenza, 2008). These co-morbidities may exacerbate, or be exacerbated by, problem and pathological gambling. The availability of opportunities to gamble and the incidence of problem gambling within a community are also known to be linked (e.g., Pearce et al., 2008). Anyone coming into the gambling studies field from a psychological perspective would probably conclude from reading the literature that problem and pathological gambling is associated with particular game types. More specifically, there appears to be a line of thinking in the gambling studies field that casino-type games (and particularly slot machines) are more likely to be associated with problem gambling than lottery-type games (Griffiths, 1994; Meyer et al., 2009). In this opinion paper it is argued that when it comes to problem gambling, game-type is irrelevant and that the most important factors along with individual susceptibility and risk factors of the individual gambler (which are not discussed here and beyond this paper's remit), are the structural characteristics relating to the speed and frequency of the game (and more specifically event frequency, bet frequency, event duration, and payout interval) rather than the type of game. It is also argued that researchers in the gambling studies field need to think about game parameters rather than game type when it comes to any association with problem and pathological gambling.

What proportion of gambling is problem gambling? Estimates from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey

The paper reports secondary analysis of data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey, a household survey of a representative sample of the population aged 16 years and over (N = 7756). Responses to questions about frequency of gambling and average monthly spend on each of 15 forms of gambling, and responses to two different problem gambling screens (DSM-IV and PGSI), were used to derive estimates, for each form of gambling separately, of the percentage of (1) all days play (two estimates), and (2) all spend (four estimates), attributable to problem gamblers. Although these estimates must be treated as approximations only, they demonstrate that problem gamblers make a far greater contribution to total gambling attendances and losses than problem gambling prevalence figures would suggest. There are certain forms of British gambling to which problem gamblers may be contributing as much as 20–30% of all days play and spend, and moderate risk gamblers a possible further 10–20%.

Defining the online gambler and patterns of behaviour integration: evidence from the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010

This paper presents data from the British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) 2010, a large-scale random probability survey of adults (n = 7756), to examine how people gamble and ways in which online and offline gambling are integrated. Fourteen per cent of respondents were past year Internet gamblers (7% if purchase of lottery tickets online is excluded). The majority of online gamblers were also offline gamblers and a broader taxonomy of gambling subgroups was evident. This included those who chose different mediums of access for different activities and those who gambled online and offline on the same activity (mixed mode gamblers). These mixed mode gamblers had the highest rates of gambling involvement and higher problem gambling prevalence rates. Direct comparisons between Internet and non-Internet gamblers therefore ignore key questions of how people integrate online provisions with offline activities which may have important implications for our understanding of the relative risks associated with online gambling.

Gambling in Britain: A Time of Change? Health Implications from the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010

Gambling-related harm is a term that is being increasingly used in British policy circles to describe the negative impacts of gambling across a range of areas. It includes focus on the health and psychological impact on the individual but also has more comprehensive reach moving beyond the directly-affected gambler to include their families, wider social networks and community (Responsible Gambling Strategy Board 2010). The social and health costs of problem gambling are potentially large at both individual and societal levels. For instance, adverse health consequences for problem gamblers and their partners include depression, anxiety, insomnia, gastric/intestinal disorders, migraine, and other stress-related disorders (Griffiths 2004). In the UK, monitoring levels of gambling-related harm have focused on measuring the prevalence of problem gambling and estimating how many problem gamblers there are. However, from a public health perspective, this is inadequate. Not only does it fail to recognise the multiplier effect of impact associated with problem gambling, it also does not recognise a further important group of people; those at-risk of developing gambling problems. Int J Ment Health Addiction (2012) 10:273–277 DOI 10.1007/s11469-011-9319-4

The role of social factors in gambling: evidence from the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey

Using data from the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey, relationships were explored between gambling variables and each of the three key indices of a person's social position, controlling for age and sex. Personal income was found to be positively and linearly related to gambling prevalence, to number of gambling activities engaged in, and to positive attitudes towards gambling; household occupational category was significantly associated with prevalence and frequency of gambling, with problem or moderate risk gambling, and with attitudes towards gambling (managerial and professional, and intermediate, categories obtained lower values than other categories on each of those variables); area deprivation was significantly positively and linearly related to frequency and volume of gambling and to reports of close relatives having gambling problems. The analyses presented here, whilst primarily exploratory, suggest that future surveys should go further towards examining gambling issues as ones of family and community significance.

Taming of the casino dragon

The Gambling Act 2005 reformed the gambling market with far-reaching implications for the market as a whole, and casino gambling in particular. A small survey was conducted in Swansea to review community perceptions of casinos in their locality. This paper examines the alleged benefits of gambling and to discuss the concern that the Gambling Act will be likely to harm those who are most deprived and vulnerable in society. This paper explores the advantages and disadvantages to the establishment of a casino and its perceived impacts on local families and communities. Issues such as fear of an increase in crime and increases in poverty, ill-health and family breakdown were all important to respondents and are discussed in this paper. In summary, the majority of all respondents had a negative attitude towards gambling, which reflects the findings of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey. During conversations it became evident that the respondents' attitudes towards the casino gambling were formed based on their perceptions and images of a casino and the gambling industry in general. A lot of respondents said that their perceptions of Internet gambling were predominantly based on the media reporting. Some of the respondents mentioned that their personal gambling experiences and observations had also shaped their opinions on the survey responses.

Problem Gambling Treatment Within the British National Health Service

According to the latest British Gambling Prevalence Survey, there are approximately 300,000 adult problem gamblers in Great Britain. In January 2007, the British Medical Association published a report recommending that those experiencing gambling problems should receive treatment via the National Health Service (NHS). This study examines the extent to which this recommendation has been taken up by NHS Trusts. In August 2009, a total of 327 letters were sent to all Primary Care Trusts, Foundation Trusts and Mental Health Trusts in the UK requesting information about problem gambling service provision and past year treatment of gambling problems within their Trust under the Freedom of Information Act. Results showed that 97% of the Trusts did not provide any service (specialist or otherwise) for treating those with gambling problems (i.e., only nine Trusts provided evidence of how they deal with problem gambling). Only one Trust offered dedicated specialist help for problem gambling. There was some evidence that problem gamblers may get treatment via the NHS if that person has other co-morbid disorders as the primary referral problem. Current provision for problem gamblers in Great Britain is delivered overwhelmingly by the third sector. There is still a long way to go if the aim is to provide localised, problem specific treatment to problem gamblers within the NHS system.

A latent class analysis of DSM-IV pathological gambling criteria in a nationally representative British sample

This study identified empirically derived subtypes of gamblers based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling disorder (PGD). Data from the gamblers (n=5644) who participated in the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) were analysed using latent class analysis. Common socio-demographic correlates of PGD were subsequently assessed across the classes. Three distinct groups or classes of gamblers emerged. The majority of the sample (88.9%) was assigned to a ‘non-problematic gambler’ class. A second ‘preoccupied chaser’ class contained a significant percentage of gamblers (9.7%) who reported symptoms such as a preoccupation with gambling and engaging in chasing loses. Approximately 1.4% of gamblers were classified into an ‘antisocial impulsivist gambler’ class. Males, non-Whites and smokers were all more likely to be preoccupied chasers or antisocial impulsivist gamblers, rather than non-problematic gamblers. The current findings revealed that the gambling subtypes identified in the 2007 BGPS largely differed in relation to the severity, rather than the type, of symptoms experienced. These findings present a useful and clinically meaningful typology of individuals with PGD that may be examined further in both research and clinical settings.