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: Takashi Yoshioka, Ryuhei So, Tatsuya Noda, Moritoshi Kido, Chieko Ito, Tomoki Nakaya, Satoshi Funada, Shiori Tsutsumi, Takahiro Tabuchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Addictive Behaviors Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000136
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author Takashi Yoshioka
Ryuhei So
Tatsuya Noda
Moritoshi Kido
Chieko Ito
Tomoki Nakaya
Satoshi Funada
Shiori Tsutsumi
Takahiro Tabuchi
author_facet Takashi Yoshioka
Ryuhei So
Tatsuya Noda
Moritoshi Kido
Chieko Ito
Tomoki Nakaya
Satoshi Funada
Shiori Tsutsumi
Takahiro Tabuchi
author_sort Takashi Yoshioka
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj-art-b33fbfde90ca4035bdc5f2eee31586852025-08-20T02:34:39ZengElsevierAddictive Behaviors Reports2352-85322025-06-012110059510.1016/j.abrep.2025.100595Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based studyTakashi Yoshioka0Ryuhei So1Tatsuya Noda2Moritoshi Kido3Chieko Ito4Tomoki Nakaya5Satoshi Funada6Shiori Tsutsumi7Takahiro Tabuchi8Health Technology Assessment Unit, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan; Corresponding author at: Health Technology Assessment Unit, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.Department of Psychiatry, Okayama Psychiatric Medical Center, Okayama, Japan; CureApp, Inc., Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Public Health, Health Management and Policy, Nara Medical University, Nara, JapanFaculty of Human Science, Aichi Mizuho College, Aichi, Japan,Nara Prefectural Center for Mental Health and Welfare, Nara, JapanGraduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Miyagi, JapanHealth Technology Assessment Unit, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, JapanGraduate School of Health Management, Keio University, Kanagawa, Japan; Department of Drug Dependence Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, JapanDivision of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan; Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan; The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo, JapanBackground 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000136GamblingProblem gamblingOnline gamblingCasinoCryptocurrency tradingAddictive behavior
spellingShingle Takashi Yoshioka
Ryuhei So
Tatsuya Noda
Moritoshi Kido
Chieko Ito
Tomoki Nakaya
Satoshi Funada
Shiori Tsutsumi
Takahiro Tabuchi
Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study
Addictive Behaviors Reports
Gambling
Problem gambling
Online gambling
Casino
Cryptocurrency trading
Addictive behavior
title Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study
title_full Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study
title_fullStr Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study
title_full_unstemmed Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study
title_short Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study
title_sort association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in japan a nationwide cross sectional online survey based study
topic Gambling
Problem gambling
Online gambling
Casino
Cryptocurrency trading
Addictive behavior
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000136
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