Tipsters are people who provide information on sports betting strategies and predicted outcomes on social media. In this study, the researchers looked at the association between exposure to tipsters and gambling intention, behaviours, and risk factors among adolescents. Data came from 782 adolescents attending secondary schools in Galicia, Spain. Participants completed a survey in their classrooms.
Males generally reported greater gambling involvement and were more likely to experience problem gambling than females. Following tipsters was linked to greater gambling intention and riskier gambling patterns in both sexes, as well as being more likely to endorse all four reasons for gambling, especially financial reasons. Coping reasons for gambling were also notable in females who followed tipsters. The findings suggest that following tipsters on social media is linked to greater gambling risk.
