Gambling behaviors in Israel – results from the first epidemiological study

Session Title

Session 2-3-A: Measuring Problem Gambling

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

24-5-2023 1:30 PM

End Date

24-5-2023 3:00 PM

Disciplines

Health Policy | Social Policy

Abstract

Israel constitutes a unique field to explore gambling behavior since gambling is tightly regulated and only lotteries, and sports betting (online and land-based) are authorized by law. Slot machines and casinos are illegal. When combined with the specific characteristics of Israeli society that blend modern and traditional values, ongoing conflicts between secular and religious sectors, and exposure to political violence, all of these may create a strong impetus to gamble. Here, we present findings from the first epidemiological study conducted in Israel in 2022 on a representative sample of 3240 individuals aged 18 and above recruited from an online panel that included both Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs. Findings about gambling behaviors will be discussed in relation to the Israeli socio-cultural context. A statistical analysis of gambling severity and social variables (e.g., financial depreciation, subjected poverty, etc.) will be presented, as well as, clusters of online vs. land-based gamblers. Recommendations for public health policy will be discussed.

Keywords

epidemiological study; Israel; online gambling; land-based gambling

Author Bios

Prof. Belle Gavriel-Fried is a senior faculty member at Tel Aviv University. She has conducted numerous studies exploring the unique characteristics of Israeli society as manifested in the gambling field. In the past six years her studies focuses on various aspects of recovery from addictive behaviors. She implements both qualitative and quantitative research methods in her work.

Amit Loewenthal is a postdoctoral fellow in The School of Social Work at Tel Aviv University and holds Ph.D. in Public Policy and an M.A. in Economics from Tel Aviv University. He studies the relationship between economic conditions and political violence. His dissertation won the Horowitz Institute Scholarship in Economic and Social Development and the Yitzhak Rabin Award for research on peace and reconciliation. He also received a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Potsdam.

Dr. Noa Vana is a medical anthropologist. She is currently doing her post-doc at the Bob-Shappell School of Social Science at Tel-Aviv University researching gambling addiction among Ultra-Orthodox men in Israel.

Funding Sources

This study was supported by "Mifal Hapais" (The Israeli Lottery) Independent Academic Research Fund

Competing Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest

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May 24th, 1:30 PM May 24th, 3:00 PM

Gambling behaviors in Israel – results from the first epidemiological study

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Israel constitutes a unique field to explore gambling behavior since gambling is tightly regulated and only lotteries, and sports betting (online and land-based) are authorized by law. Slot machines and casinos are illegal. When combined with the specific characteristics of Israeli society that blend modern and traditional values, ongoing conflicts between secular and religious sectors, and exposure to political violence, all of these may create a strong impetus to gamble. Here, we present findings from the first epidemiological study conducted in Israel in 2022 on a representative sample of 3240 individuals aged 18 and above recruited from an online panel that included both Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs. Findings about gambling behaviors will be discussed in relation to the Israeli socio-cultural context. A statistical analysis of gambling severity and social variables (e.g., financial depreciation, subjected poverty, etc.) will be presented, as well as, clusters of online vs. land-based gamblers. Recommendations for public health policy will be discussed.