Gambling Participation and Problem Gambling Severity among Rural and Peri-Urban Poor South African Adults in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

Poor South Africans are significantly poorer and have lower employment rates than the subjects of most published research on gambling prevalence and problem gambling. Some existing work suggests relationships between gambling activity (including severity of risk for problem gambling), income, employment status and casino proximity. The objective of the study reported here is to establish the prevalence of gambling, including at risk and pathological gambling, and the profile of gambling activities in two samples of poor South African adults living in a rural and a peri-urban community. A total of 300 (150 male, 150 female) adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in communities selected using census data, completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index and a survey of socioeconomic and household information, and of gambling knowledge and activity. It was found that gambling was common, and-except for lottery participation-mostly informal or unlicensed. Significant differences between rural and peri-urban populations were found. Peri-urban subjects were slightly less poor, and gambled more and on a different and wider range of activities. Problem and at risk gamblers were disproportionately represented among the more urbanised. Casino proximity appeared largely irrelevant to gambling activity.

Participation and attitudes towards gambling in Ghanaian youth: an exploratory analysis of risk and protective factors

“…As the duration of senior high school is three years, second year students may have thought they have plenty of time to spare and may use this time to engage in various social activities, including gambling. In all cases, high frequency gamblers also had a positive attitude towards gambling and considered gambling to be a positive experience compared to non/low frequency gamblers (10,39).…”

“…While many western countries have comprehensive data on the impact of gambling on the population, little is known about gambling in African countries, especially among young people. One of the few studies that has reported gambling impact data in Africa, done in South Africa, reported 2% prevalence of problem gambling and a further 10% being considered at risk (10). Street youth are turning to gambling as a means of earning money in several African countries including Ghana where university students were introducing gambling to the local adolescents, creating problems for the community (11,12).…”

Alcohol Consumption and Sports-betting Among Young Male Motorcycle Taxi Bodaboda Riders in Urban Southwestern Uganda

“…The frequency of sports-betting in our study population is comparable to that from a study in the United States [16], although this was a student population. However, the frequency in our study population is only half of that demonstrated in a South Africa population [17]. This study in South Africa was conducted among a general adult population, mostly low income poor population.…”

Problem Gambling among Young People in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…In this regard, a recent survey conducted in Uganda found that 39% of respondents reported that they were aware of minors who engaged in gambling activities ( 42 ). Besides the influence of peers and aggressive marketing efforts from the gambling sector ( 42 ), GD and associated problems sometimes trace their roots in a family setting where young people are introduced to gambling at a young age ( 34 ). In a study conducted in South Africa 13% of the gamblers had experienced gambling problems in their families while they were younger (i.e., before young adulthood) ( 34 ).…”