Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study
Background and Aims: Problem gambling (PG) is a relevant public health concern. Thus, this study aimed to identify the association of specific gambling activities and modalities with PG in Japan. Methods: A cross-sectional study using data from a large-scale online survey was conducted in Japan betw...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Addictive Behaviors Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000136 |
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| Summary: | Background and Aims: Problem gambling (PG) is a relevant public health concern. Thus, this study aimed to identify the association of specific gambling activities and modalities with PG in Japan. Methods: A cross-sectional study using data from a large-scale online survey was conducted in Japan between February 6 and 27, 2023. Candidate gambling activities and modalities include sports betting (offline/online), casinos (offline/online), lotteries (offline/online), electronic gaming machines, and trading activities. PG was defined as a score ≥ 8 on the Problem Gambling Severity Index. All estimates were weighted using a nationally representative survey conducted in Japan in 2019. To estimate the association between gambling engagement and the prevalence of PG, multivariable logistic regression models were fitted after adjusting for 13 confounding factors representing demographic, socioeconomic, health-related, and geographic characteristics. Results: A total of 12,955 respondents aged 15–82 years who had gambled in the past year were included. Among the respondents, 12.2 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 11.4–13.1) were reported PG. The weighted multivariable logistic regression models revealed significant associations of PG with online sports betting (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.41, 95 % CI 1.86–3.13), offline casinos (aOR 1.53, 95 % CI 1.16–2.02), online casinos (aOR 4.25, 95 % CI 3.09–5.86), and cryptocurrency trading (aOR 1.60, 95 % CI 1.22–2.10). Conclusion: Experiences in online sports betting, online and offline casinos, and cryptocurrency trading demonstrated statistically significant associations with the prevalence of PG. These findings emphasize the need for legal awareness of casinos and restrictions on gambling access and betting amounts. |
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| ISSN: | 2352-8532 |