Work

Internet-Based Structural Characteristics of Sports Betting and Problem Gambling Severity: Is There a Relationship?

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: With the adoption and popularization of internet-based platforms, sports betting has introduced new functionalities that transform the design of its products and therefore the way bettors interact with them. This study aims to explore the association between the use of new structural characteristics of online betting and gambling severity. Five characteristics are examined here: (i) live in-play betting; (ii) cash out feature use (as example of in-play betting in-built features); (iii) fantasy sports gaming; (iv) location of betting; and (v) device or platform used to make bets. A cohort (N = 659) of Spanish gamblers who had bet on sports during the previous year was recruited through an online survey. The results suggested that those bettors scoring higher on gambling problems also utilized more often such new structural characteristics, in a proportion not explained only by their higher overall gambling activity. Mobile betting was especially frequent among problem gamblers.

Source: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

DOI: 10.1007/s11469-018-9876-x

Authors: Hibai Lopez-Gonzalez, Ana Estévez, Mark D. Griffiths

Institutions: Universidad de Deusto, Nottingham Trent University

Language: English

Topic: Gambling Behavior and Treatments

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,090

Funder: Eusko Jaurlaritza