Sports betting and eSports betting: Same risk factors?
Abstract
Various events in recent years have probably had a significant influence on gambling habits. From the pandemic with its many confinements to the amendment of the Sports Betting Act (S.C. 2021, c.20) which came into effect in 2021, the gambling environment in Canada has changed. While early studies point to an increase in gambling patterns during the COVID, what about more specific and lesser known groups such as those betting on eSports and those betting on sports? This study is part of a longitudinal e-Gaming study in which nearly 4,000 participants from a web panel completed an online questionnaire. Among the 550 sports bettors, 35.1% increased their gambling frequency during the pandemic, 37.4% increased their spending and 41.1% increased the time spent on sports betting. For their part, among the 303 eSports bettors, 49.3% increased their spending and 51.1% increased the time and frequency of these bets during the pandemic. In addition, 51.5% of eSports bettors have an PGSI score that classifies them as problem gamblers (8+) compared to 30.7% of sports bettors. This presentation will further explore the risk factors for these two groups in order to inform preventive interventions for these relatively unknown groups.
Sports betting and eSports betting: Same risk factors?
Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV
Various events in recent years have probably had a significant influence on gambling habits. From the pandemic with its many confinements to the amendment of the Sports Betting Act (S.C. 2021, c.20) which came into effect in 2021, the gambling environment in Canada has changed. While early studies point to an increase in gambling patterns during the COVID, what about more specific and lesser known groups such as those betting on eSports and those betting on sports? This study is part of a longitudinal e-Gaming study in which nearly 4,000 participants from a web panel completed an online questionnaire. Among the 550 sports bettors, 35.1% increased their gambling frequency during the pandemic, 37.4% increased their spending and 41.1% increased the time spent on sports betting. For their part, among the 303 eSports bettors, 49.3% increased their spending and 51.1% increased the time and frequency of these bets during the pandemic. In addition, 51.5% of eSports bettors have an PGSI score that classifies them as problem gamblers (8+) compared to 30.7% of sports bettors. This presentation will further explore the risk factors for these two groups in order to inform preventive interventions for these relatively unknown groups.
