This study adapted and tested the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) for sports betting over the past 3 months. A total of 221 young adults living in the United States, who bet on sports at least twice in the past 30 days, participated in the study. Participants completed the original PGSI as well as the newly adapted PGSI for sports betting (PGSI-SB). They also provided information about their sports betting behaviour in the past 2 weeks, including frequency, total number of bets, and total amount wagered.
Overall, the researchers found support for the PGSI-SB. The PGSI-SB could be used as a single-factor measure or as a two-factor measure with problem behaviour and negative consequences divided into two subscales. Higher scores on the PGSI-SB were linked to more frequent sports betting, more bets made, and a higher amount of money wagered. The researchers did note some challenges when they tested both subscales at the same time, as they found that the results were unstable. This was due to the high association between the two subscales. The issue was not present when the PGSI-SB was used as a single-factor measure or when the subscales were tested separately.
