Youth Gambling Research Articles

Risk and Protective Factors for Gambling Among Youth by origin: Findings from the three waves of cross-sectional Finnish School Health Promotion Study among 238,939 Students.

Gambling is a public health problem that can cause many kinds of harm. The aim of this study was to examine youth gambling by origin, and the risk and protective factors associated with it. The data was drawn from the School Health Promotion Study (n = 238,939) conducted in Finland, representative of the 14 to 16-year-old Finnish schoolchildren. Cross-tabulations and multivariate logistic regression were used in assessing the association between origin and weekly gambling. Interaction terms of origin and background variables related to substance use, peer and family relations and leisure time were then calculated to assess inter-group differences. The study showed that foreign-born, migrant origin and youth from mixed families were more likely to gamble weekly compared to youth with Finnish-born parents. The likelihood of gambling was particularly high among foreign-born and migrant-origin youth. Weekly gambling was significantly more common among boys than girls in all studied youth groups, and it was particularly common among foreign-born boys compared to other groups. Substance use was associated with weekly gambling and even more so among foreign-born youth. There were also differences by origin in the strength of association between other background factors and weekly gambling. Foreign-born boys appear to be especially vulnerable to multiple health and social risks including gambling, making them a particularly important group for targeted preventive programs. Preventive efforts are needed to enhance public awareness, boost parental supervision, and limit gambling-related risks. Special attention is needed to prevent migrant-origin boys from developing problems with gambling.

Influences on gambling during youth: comparisons between at-risk/problem, non-problem and non-gambling adolescents in Australia

ABSTRACT Gambling patterns among young people are diverse, yet factors that affect changes in their gambling behaviour as they mature remain poorly understood. This study explores gambling trajectories and related sources of influence during childhood, early adolescence and later adolescence, and amongst adolescents at different levels of gambling risk. Qualitative interviews and online communities with 89 Australians aged 12–17 years explored their gambling experiences, from childhood to the present. Reflexive thematic narrative analysis revealed that children often learn how to gamble through their parents. Parents, peers, sports interests, advertising and simulated gambling continue to transfer gambling knowledge and skills throughout adolescence. Gambling is further reinforced through social rewards and is highly normalised through advertising. At-risk/problem gambling adolescents tended to report positive early memories of gambling, but also harmful parental gambling. They reported having friendship groups where betting is highly normalised. They purposefully honed their betting knowledge to demonstrate skill, and also gambled with in-game items (skins). Conversely, non-gamblers reported very little exposure to parental gambling, mirrored their parents’ negative attitudes to gambling, were unlikely to have friends who gambled, and reported less interest in professional sport. Reducing youth gambling and gambling harm requires measures to tackle multiple layers of influence.

Knowledge of Play: A Precursor for Rethinking Sports Gambling Among Young Africans

The degree of involvement in sports gambling activities differs among individuals, in terms of knowledge of the sport they gamble on, and betting dynamics. These sorts of differences have created distinct classes of bettors within the youth gambling population, where the lower strata consult members of the highest stratum to maximise gambling success. This article suggests that, within what is known as a youth gambling population, a community of gamblers exists. This demonstrates the necessity to avoid or mitigate the tendency to treat the youth gambling population as a unified whole. The article also articulates important dynamics of sports gambling culture among young people and explains how the activity is perceived and encouraged among/within a gambling community.

Too Young to Gamble: Long-term Risks from Underage Gambling

The increasing availability of gambling opportunities worldwide has the potential to impact youth gambling behavior and the prevalence of gambling-related harm. This paper studies whether starting gambling at an early age (i.e., below the minimum legal gambling age) increases an individual’s likelihood of suffering some kind of gambling-related harm in the future. Data taken from the Study on the Prevalence, Behavior and Characteristics of Gamblers in Spain provide information on respondents’ gambling starting age and assess gambling risk based on criteria established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Estimates from an ordered probit model suggest that starting to gamble while under the minimum legal age is associated with a higher likelihood of problem gambling.

Associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Gambling Severity in Youth Online Gamblers: The Mediating Roles of Internalizing, Attention and Externalizing Problems.

This study examined the association between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Gambling Severity (gambling severity), considering the mediating roles of internalizing, externalizing, and attention among youth online gamblers. 762 youth (agemean±SD= 15.03 ± 2.40; agerange = 10-18 years; 75.3% boys) completed the Persian Gambling Disorder Screening Questionnaire (GDSQ-P), Pediatric Symptom Checklist - Youth Report (Y-PSC), and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Questionnaire (ACE's section, modified by authors). The analysis was done using the SMART PLS software. The reliability and discriminant validity of the provided model were assessed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). According to the results of the PLS-SEM analysis, the present model demonstrated suitable levels of reliability and validity. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) significantly affected attention, internalizing, externalizing problems, and gambling severity. Additionally, the level of gambling was directly correlated with ACEs. Moreover, the indirect influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable via the mediators was found to be statistically significant (P < .001).These findings suggest that externalizing behaviors, attention problems, and internalizing symptoms mediate the effect of ACEs on gambling severity. Lastly, fitness indices indicated that our proposed model fit the data well (SRMR = 0.06, d_ULS = 1.15, Chi-square = 1291.461, and NFI = 0.71). Our study found that ACEs significantly influence gambling severity among youth online gamblers, with internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems mediating this relationship. Practical implications include integrating ACE screening and targeted interventions for associated mental health issues into youth gambling prevention programs to mitigate the risk of problematic gambling behavior.

Public Awareness Campaigns and Their Impact on Youth Gambling in Tanzania: A Case Study of Gallapo Ward in Manyara Region

Youth gambling is a growing concern in Tanzania, with significant participation rates among young people. Public awareness campaigns have been identified as a potential strategy to reduce youth gambling behaviors by educating them about the risks associated with gambling and promoting responsible behaviors. This study aimed to assess the impact of public awareness campaigns on reducing youth gambling in Gallapo Ward, Manyara Region, Tanzania.A mixed-methods approach was employed, including both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. A sample size of 75 youth who had participated in gambling activities was selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.The findings revealed that public awareness campaigns had a significant impact on increasing awareness of legal age restrictions for gambling and improving understanding of gambling risks among youth. The campaigns also helped reduce peer pressure related to gambling and influenced youth to resist negative influences. Moreover, there was a strong belief among respondents that public awareness campaigns could contribute to a decrease in youth gambling rates.Based on the study findings, it is recommended to continue investing in and expanding public awareness campaigns focused on educating youth about responsible gambling practices. Tailored educational programs and support services should be developed to address specific knowledge gaps and behavioral patterns related to gambling among youth. Collaborative efforts involving various stakeholders are crucial for the success of these interventions.Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of public awareness campaigns in promoting responsible gambling behaviors and advocating for policy measures to safeguard youth from the harms of gambling. These findings provide valuable insights for stakeholders and policymakers working towards reducing youth gambling impact in Tanzania.

Maladaptive Personality Trait Facets and Mentalization in Youth Gambling

Maladaptive Personality Trait Facets and Mentalization in Youth Gambling

Transforming Gambling Harm Reduction in Youth: Leveraging AI Language Models for Personalized Intervention and Prevention

This article highlights the pressing issue of youth gambling addiction, with up to 20% of young individuals engaging in gambling activities, particularly online. With 6-9% of US youth facing gambling problems. This study explores how Large Language Models (LLMs) can enhance harm reduction by providing personalized support, early intervention, and education while respecting privacy. The article draws insights from a review of 45 studies. It was found that youth gambling addiction is a global issue exacerbated by technology and the pandemic. LLMs like GPT-4 offer promise in harm reduction by providing information and support. LLMs can provide vital insights, educational materials, and support for responsible gambling. The article acknowledges potential LLM risks and emphasizes a cautious approach. Recommendations include personalized interventions, online pop-ups, enhanced LLMs, ongoing research, multi-stakeholder collaboration, etc.

Childhood Use of Coin Pusher and Crane Grab Machines, and Adult Gambling: Robustness to Subjective Confidence in a Young Adult USA Sample.

Gambling as a youth is a risk factor for experiencing gambling-related harm as an adult. Most youth gambling research focuses on illegal engagement with age-restricted products, but youth can also gamble legally, by for example betting with friends, or via coin pusher and crane grab machines. Research has associated recollected rates of usage of these machines as a child with adult gambling participation and problems, but only in the UK and Australia, and has not tested for robustness to subjective confidence. The present study conceptually replicated these prior studies by investigating the association between recollected childhood use of coin push and crane grab machines, and adult gambling behavior, in a young adult USA sample. Participants rated their subjective confidence to test if individual differences in recollection biases provided a better account for any observed associations. Results found high recollected engagement rates for both coin pusher (87.2%) and crane grab machines (97.0%), and 5 of the 6 tested associations between youth machine usage and adult gambling engagement and problems were significant and in the hypothesized direction. Rates of subjective confidence were on average high (83.3 and 89.2 on a 0 to 100 scale), and generally did not interact with participants' recollected rates of machine use. These findings extend prior research on potential public health concerns around children's legal engagement with coin pusher and crane grab machines to a new country, the USA.

Poor school performance and gambling among adolescents: Can the association be moderated by conditions in school?

IntroductionProtective factors of adolescent gambling at the school level and their buffering potential are scarcely explored in prior research. This study aims to examine the protective possibility of low student–teacher ratio on youth gambling, both directly and by moderating the effect of low school performance. MethodsData were derived from the 2016 Stockholm school survey, collected among 5,221 grade 11 students (∼17–18 years) in 46 schools, with information on schools’ composition and student–teacher ratio obtained through registers. Gambling and risk gambling were coded as binary variables. School performance was captured by self-reported marks in three core subjects, dichotomised into average/above average and below average, respectively. Student-teacher ratio was used both as a continuous and trichotomised variable. Two-level binary logistic regression analyses were performed. ResultsA below average school performance was associated with gambling and risk gambling but the association with gambling was only statistically significant at the 10%-level in the fully adjusted model. Student-teacher ratio was not directly associated with gambling and risk gambling but moderated the associations between school performance and both gambling and risk gambling, as these relationships were less pronounced in schools with a low student–teacher ratio. ConclusionsIn sum, a low student–teacher ratio may protect students from gambling and risk gambling by buffering against the adverse effects of other risk factors, such as poor school performance. These findings suggest that a higher teacher density in upper secondary schools can be beneficial beyond school matters by positively influencing student behaviour outside of school.

Youth gambling during the COVID-19 pandemic

Gambling is one of the oldest social pathologies. In antiquity people played dice for money,today bets have largely moved to the Internet. The aim of the presented research wasto describe the scale of gambling among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic,which contributed to the fact that young people spend a significant amount of time online,what makes gambling much more dangerous for minors. The study involved 96 secondaryschool students who completed the Lodz Questionnaire for Gambling Problemsamong Adolescents. This tool allows you to describe the results on three scales: the PlayingFrequency Scale, the Gambling Prevalence Scale and the Irrational Gambling ThinkingScale.Research has shown that during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 2015 data,the frequency of gambling by young people increased significantly. Some of them experienceproblems in their everyday life because of this.Secondary school students constitute an important group to whom prevention programsin the field of addiction to gambling should be addressed. Especially the widespreadaccess to the Internet, a large proportion of the time spent online and the COVID-19pandemic are important risk factors that may account for the exacerbation of gamblingproblems in the youth group.

청소년의 비합리적 도박신념과 도박문제의 관계

The purpose of this study is to find out whether self-control plays a mediating role in the relationship between adolescents' irrational gambling beliefs and gambling problems. Online illegal gambling is a hot topic as a recent social problem. Variant gambling is permeating deeply in online illegal sites, and this variation induces young people to bet large amounts of money without recognizing that it is gambling by using cute characters they like. Not only adults but also teenagers access illegal gambling sites, fall into gambling, are unable to concentrate on schoolwork, have difficulties with friends, and even commit secondary crimes to pay off gambling debts caused by illegal gambling. In addition, there are cases in which an extreme choice is made after spending a debt through SNS and receiving a collection. As such, the recent increase in gambling problems among adolescents has emerged as a serious social problem. Therefore, in order to find out the seriousness of the youth gambling problem, this study asked 182 general high school and specialized high school students located in ㅇㅇ city, Gangwon-do, where the researcher resides, to ask for permission from the school in advance and allocate time that did not interfere with class time. A total of 59 questions were administered on the Irrational Belief Scale (16 items), the Gambling Problem Scale (9 items), and the Self-Control Scale (34 items). Mediating effects were verified through structural model verification and bootstrap. As a result of the study, there was a significant positive correlation between adolescents' irrational gambling beliefs and gambling problems. This means that the higher the level of irrational gambling belief, the higher the level of gambling problems. In addition, the relationship between self-control and gambling problems, which were set as mediating variables, showed a significant negative correlation. These results show that the lower the self-control, the more likely you are to fall into a gambling problem. Therefore, according to the correlation results of each variable set in this study, it can be predicted that the higher the level of irrational gambling belief, the lower the level of self-control and the higher the level of gambling problems. In addition, it can be predicted that the higher the level of self-control, the lower the level of gambling problems. Self-control was found to partially mediate the relationship between irrational gambling beliefs and gambling problems. These results suggest that when counseling adolescents suffering from gambling problems, it is necessary to lower irrational gambling beliefs and increase the level of self-control. This study is meaningful in revealing the relationship between adolescents' irrational gambling beliefs, self-control, and gambling problems, and recognizing the danger of adolescent illegal gambling problems and the necessity of continuous youth gambling prevention education in schools. Finally, the limitations of this study and suggestions for follow-up studies were made to enable future studies and preemptive responses.

Childhood use of coin pusher and crane grab machines, and adult gambling: A conceptual replication of Newall etal. (2021).

Youth gambling research mainly focuses on the illegal use of age-restricted machines, but coin pusher and crane grab machines are gambling machines that can be used by people of any age in the UK, and are also in use internationally. Previous cross-sectional evidence has associated recollected childhood usage of these machines with adult gambling participation and levels of problem gambling amongst adult gamblers. We attempted to conceptually replicate the findings of one of these studies (Newall etal., 2021), while addressing some limitations of that study. A cross-sectional survey of 2,000 UK-based and -born participants aged 19-24 years. The measures were participants' recollected usage of coin pusher and crane grab machines as a child, whether they had gambled in the past 12-months or not, and the PGSI for past 12-month gamblers. Overall, 5 of 7 tested associations were significant and in the hypothesized direction. Logistic regression models showed that adult gamblers were more likely to recollect using, and used at higher levels of frequency, coin pusher and crane grab machines, than non-gamblers. Then, negative binomial regression analysis showed that adults who recollected using crane grab machines at higher levels of frequency showed more gambling-related problems. These results suggest that childhood usage of coin pusher and crane grab machines may act as an underappreciated risk factor for the development of gambling-related harm across the lifespan. This information may be considered for further youth gambling research and policy.

The Core Symptoms of Adolescents Online and Offline Gambling in South Korea Using Network Analysis.

Adolescent gambling is rapidly increasing recently. However, little is known about the core feature of adolescent gambling that should be the treatment target for adolescents. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the core symptom of adolescent gambling using network analysis with large-scale data targeting community indwelling adolescents. We used dataset of the 2018 national survey on youth gambling problems collected by the Korea Center on Gambling Problems to explore symptom networks of gambling in adolescents. Of 17,520 respondents in the dataset of the 2018 national survey on youth gambling problems collected by the Korea Center on Gambling Problems, 5,619 adolescents with experience of gambling were included in the analysis. We computed an association network, a graphical least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and a directed acyclic graph to model symptom interactions. In each network of online, offline, and all gambling, stealing money or other valuable things in order to gamble or pay off gambling debts was the most centrally situated and skipping practice followed by dropping out of activities. Especially strong connections emerged between stealing money or other valuable things in order to gamble or pay off gambling debts and academic performance degradation due to gambling. Feeling bad due to gamble and skipping hanging out with friends who do not gamble emerged as a highly central node that might be distinctive to adolescents with online gambling. These findings demonstrate central features of adolescent gambling. Different associations among specific network nodes suggest the existence of distinctive psychopathological constructs between online and offline gambling.

Near-Misses Predict Youth Gambling Intention via Illusion of Control.

We examined the moderating role of an illusion of control (IOC) in the differential contributions of forms of near-miss (NM) in youths intent to gamble in Nigeria (n = 60, mean age = 18.05, SD = 3.81) using a randomized group design. Data were obtained by means of the gambling episode stimulus material that varied NM into early-miss, late-miss, near-win and near-loss groups, and self-report measures of IOC and gambling intention. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) result showed that NM groups differed significantly on gambling intention. HAYES PROCESS macro moderation analysis results of NM categories as dummy variables showed that early miss had a non-significant negative effect on gambling intention, late miss had a significant positive effect on gambling intention, near win had a significant positive effect on gambling intention, IOC had a negative effect on gambling intention, and negatively moderated the effect of early win on gambling.

Youth gambling prevention and parental involvement Opinion-Connecticut Post Newspaper

Youth gambling prevention and parental involvement Opinion-Connecticut Post Newspaper

Externalizing and internalizing trajectories to adolescent gambling: a longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Externalizing (e.g. conduct problems and antisocial behaviors) and internalizing (e.g. depression and anxiety) problems have been associated with gambling-related harms. However, there is a paucity of longitudinal research investigating how these problems and their patterns of change over time (i.e. trajectories) predict gambling engagement among youth. This study aimed to examine the trajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems and their predictive values for later gambling. Data came from a cohort of 744 children (53.2% male, M age 8.3 years at baseline) from Québec, Canada, with 58.3% reporting significant externalizing behaviors at baseline. Participants were followed for 7 years. Externalizing and internalizing problems were measured annually, and past year gambling was assessed at the final measurement. Mean trajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems were identified through parallel process growth modeling, and logistic regression was utilized to examine whether these trajectories were predictive of gambling engagement. Thirty-one of the 659 participants remaining at the final measurement reported participation in gambling. Greater baseline externalizing problems, lower baseline internalizing problems, and a less significant decrease in externalizing problems over time predicted gambling engagement. These results provide evidence of the externalizing pathway toward youth gambling and the importance of early intervention involving youth and other relevant stakeholders.

Agnogenic practices: an analysis of UK gambling industry-funded youth education programmes

Abstract Background The corporate political activities of harmful industries, including the use of agnogenic (ignorance or doubt producing) practices and the construction of dystopian narratives, directed at influencing policymaking are well documented. However, the use of agnogenic practices by industry-funded organisations who deliver industry-favoured education-based measures remains unexplored. This study aims to build understanding of this by analysing three UK gambling industry-funded youth education programmes that represent key policy responses to gambling harms. Methods Using a published typology of corporate agnogenic practices the ways that evidence is used within the programmes’ resources to legitimise their content and implementation were analysed. Programme evaluations and claims about the programmes’ evidence base and effectiveness were also analysed. Results Agnogenic practices, including confounding referencing, misleading summaries and evidential landscaping, that resemble those adopted by harmful industries are used within gambling industry-funded youth education programmes and by the charities that oversee their delivery. These practices serve corporate interests, distort the limited evidence in support of youth gambling education measures, and legitimise industry favoured policies. Conclusions This novel study demonstrates that agnogenic practices are used to construct utopian narratives that claim that gambling industry-favoured youth education programmes are evidence-based and evaluation-led. These practices misrepresent the literature and evaluation findings and may undermine effective policymaking to protect children and young people from gambling harms. Key messages • Gambling industry-funded education programmes warrant greater scrutiny and conflicts of interest need to be addressed. • The methods and findings of this study are of relevance to other contexts and areas in the field of the commercial determinants of health given other harmful industries adopt similar approaches.

Loot boxes use, video gaming, and gambling in adolescents: Results from a path analysis before and during COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown in Italy.

Loot Boxes (LBs), i.e., virtual items embedded within video games with numerous features reminiscent of gambling, are increasingly widespread among adolescents. LB use is associated with problem gambling in youth, but few studies have been conducted on the association between LB use and gambling behavior considering adolescents. Thus, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not clear. As LB use is a significant and positive risk factor for video gaming severity, and video gaming is associated with problem gambling, we hypothesized that LB use would be related to gambling frequency and problem gambling through the intermediary role of video gaming frequency and problem video gaming. We tested our hypothesis before COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown and during COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown, in Italy. Study 1 was conducted with 1,078 high school students (39% boys, mean age = 16.46, SD = 1.28) before COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown, and Study 2 was conducted with 1,204 high school students (57% boys, mean age = 15.62, SD = 0.64) during COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown. A path analysis was carried out to analyze the significance of indirect effects from LB use to gambling behavior and problem gambling through video gaming and problem video gaming. In both the studies, results showed that LB use exerted significant and positive direct effects on video gaming frequency, problem video gaming, and gambling frequency. Moreover, LB use had indirect significant and positive effects on problem gambling through video gaming frequency, problem video gaming, and gambling frequency. Findings attest that LB use can be related to problem gambling through a greater involvement in videogames. Thus, a specific subtype of young gamblers can develop Gambling Disorder symptoms from the use of LBs and through an intense use of video games. Practical implications for prevention and treatment are discussed.

Teacher attitudes toword and awareness of adolescent gambling behavior in the UK

ABSTRACT Numbers of adolescents experiencing gambling related harm are increasing. Teachers spend a significant amount of time with students and their attitudes can make an impact on engagement in high-risk behavior. However, teachers’ awareness of, and attitudes towards adolescent gambling are under-researched; this study aimed to address this gap. 157 UK schoolteachers completed an online survey assessing their perceptions of adolescent gambling. Cochran’s-Q tests of association and regression analyses revealed that teachers perceived adolescent gambling as significantly less serious than other high-risk behaviors. Teachers also reported having significantly less frequent conversations about gambling and were less confident addressing gambling issues than other high-risk behaviors. Arguments are made for increased teacher training around problematic youth gambling. Such a strategy would be a prerequisite for the development and implementation of targeted prevention from harms.