Gambling disorder risk factors in a population of online sports betting players in Sfax

Abstract

Introduction Online sports betting (OSB) is frequently associated with gambling disorder (GD). In Tunisia, no study on this has been done so far. Objectives To detect GD in a population of Tunisian OSB players, and to identify its risk factors. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 58 male OSB players in the city of Sfax. The GD was assessed by a questionnaire relating to the DSM-V criteria. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using the DASS scale, gambling motivations using the GMQ-F scale, and impulsivity using the UPPS-P scale. Results The mean age was 37.4 ± 8.29 years. The prevalence of JAP was 53.4%. On univariate analysis, the factors associated with GD were university level of education, the practice of other gambling, daily gambling, gambling spending > 300 Dinars / month , gambling duration > 3 years, the frequency of winning >1 win /6months , the occurrence of a Big Win, total GMQ-F score, coping motivation , and financial motivation. In the multivariate study, GD risk factors were gambling spending > 300 Dinars / month (p = 0.011; ORa = 223.16), financial motivation (p = 0.022; ORa = 3.967), pathological stress (p = 0.036; ORa = 224.388) and inversely associated with the age at onset of gambling (p = 0.026; ORa = 0.751) and the UPPS score (p = 0.011; ORa = 0.6). Conclusions Our results push us to deepen our knowledge and our studies concerning this problem in our country and to reflect on the management and prevention measures. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• risk factors
• Gambling Disorder
• Impulsivity
• Stress