Risk Factors for Gambling Problems: An Analysis by Gender

• Published in: Journal of gambling studies Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 511 - 534
• Main Authors: Hing, Nerilee, Russell, Alex, Tolchard, Barry, Nower, Lia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-06-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Alcohol use; Anxiety; Attitude to Health; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Community and Environmental Psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Progression; Drug abuse; Drug use; Economics; Education; Female; Females; Gambling; Gambling - psychology; Gaming machines; Gender differences; Humans; Internet; Male; Males; Marital status; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Motivation; Online gambling; Original Paper; Psychiatry; Risk factors; Risk-Taking; Sex Factors; Social Problems; Sociology; Studies; Substance abuse treatment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Victoria; Women; Young Adult; Australia; Victoria Australia; Pathological gambling; Male; Female; Gender; Problem gambling; Risk factors; Prevalence study
• ISSN: 1573-3602; 1050-5350; 1573-3602
• DOI: 10.1007/s10899-015-9548-8

Differences in problem gambling rates between males and females suggest that associated risk factors vary by gender. Previous combined analyses of male and female gambling may have obscured these distinctions. This study aimed to develop separate risk factor models for gambling problems for males and for females, and identify gender-based similarities and differences. It analysed data from the largest prevalence study in Victoria Australia (
N
 = 15,000). Analyses determined factors differentiating non-problem from at-risk gamblers separately for women and men, then compared genders using interaction terms. Separate multivariate analyses determined significant results when controlling for all others. Variables included demographics, gambling behaviour, gambling motivations, money management, and mental and physical health. Significant predictors of at-risk status amongst female gamblers included: 18–24 years old, not speaking English at home, living in a group household, unemployed or not in the workforce, gambling on private betting, electronic gaming machines (EGMs), scratch tickets or bingo, and gambling for reasons other than social reasons, to win money or for general entertainment. For males, risk factors included: 18–24 years old, not speaking English at home, low education, living in a group household, unemployed or not in the workforce, gambling on EGMs, table games, races, sports or lotteries, and gambling for reasons other than social reasons, to win money or for general entertainment. High risk groups requiring appropriate interventions comprise young adults, especially males; middle-aged female EGM gamblers; non-English speaking populations; frequent EGM, table games, race and sports gamblers; and gamblers motivated by escape.