Gambling Phenotypes in Online Sports Betting

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The Internet provides easy access to multiple types of gambling and has led to changes in betting habits. A severe rise in problematic gambling has been predicted among all sectors of the population, and studies are required to assess the emerging phenotypes related to the new structures of gambling activities. This study aimed to explore the existence of latent classes associated with gambling habits among treatment-seeking gamblers due to Online Sports Betting (OSB). Method: Initial sample included n = 4,516 patients consecutively admitted for treatment in a hospital unit specialized in behavioral addictions. Two-step clustering analysis was used within the subsample of n = 323 patients who reported problems related with OSB, within a set of indicators including sociodemographics, psychopathological distress, personality, and severity of the gambling activity. Results: The prevalence of OSB as a main type of gambling problem in the study was 7.2% (95% confidence interval: 6.4 to 7.9%). Two latent clusters were identified, with differences in sociodemographics and clinical status. Cluster 1 (n = 247, 76.5%) grouped patients that were more affected due to the OSB behaviors, and it was characterized by non-married patients, lower socioeconomic position index, higher comorbidity with other substance related addictions, younger age, and early onset of the gambling activity, as well as higher debts due to the OSB, higher psychopathological distress, and a more dysfunctional personality profile. Cluster 2 (n = 76, 23.5%) grouped patients that were less affected by OSB, mostly married (or living with a stable partner), with higher social position levels, older age and older onset of the gambling activity, as well as a more functional psychopathological and personality profile. Conclusion: The increasing understanding of latent classes underlying OSB phenotypes is essential in guiding the development of reliable screening tools to identify individuals

Psychopathogical status and personality correlates of problem gambling severity in sports bettors undergoing treatment for gambling disorder

“…Most of the participants were men, coinciding with what has been reported in previous literature for sports betting (Granero et al, 2020). Being a man has been considered a risk factor for gambling behavior (Hing, Russell, Vitartas et al, 2016;Hing, Russell, Tolchard et al, 2016;Jim enez-Murcia et al, 2020;Kim, von Ranson, Hodgins, McGrath, & Tavares, 2018;Valero-Sol ıs et al, 2018).…”

Current Addiction in Youth: Online Sports Betting

“…We also found lower tobacco use and fewer psychiatric comorbidities in OSB compared to SM gamblers. The smoking prevalence in our OSB sample is slightly lower than in previous studies among online gamblers ( 18 – 20 ). This could be because almost half of OSB gamblers from our study have reached a university education level that has shown a negative association with smoking prevalence ( 21 ).…”

Impulsivity, Lack of Premeditation, and Debts in Online Gambling Disorder

“…Sports betting is the most practiced type of gambling among online sample. Previous literature provides evidence of different phenotypes of online sports betting gamblers ( 42 ). In contrast, among offline gamblers, slot machines are the most common gambling activity.…”