Features of smartphones and harmful sports betting behaviour among young adults

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Author(s): Hing, Nerilee ; Thorne, Hannah B. ; Russell, Alex M. T. ; Newall, Philip W. S. ; Lole, Lisa ; Rockloff, Matthew J. ; Browne, Matthew ; Greer, Nancy ; Tulloch, Catherine

Journal: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: December 16, 2022

The researchers examined how using smartphones can influence sports betting by young adults. The researchers interviewed 33 Australians aged 19–29 years. These participants bet regularly on sports, esports, and/or fantasy sports. The researchers identified seven major themes. The themes included platform functionality; sourcing betting information; physical accessibility; financial accessibility; social influences; privacy; and marketing. The researchers created a model that shows how features of smartphones, online gambling, and betting apps combine in smartphone betting. This provides instant access to betting anywhere and at any time, which can lead to harmful betting behaviours. Such behaviours include increased betting participation; increased frequency and spending; placing a wider variety of bets; impulsive and spontaneous betting; placing riskier bets; chasing losses; and acting on social encouragement to bet.

Citation: Hing, N., Thorne, H., Russell, A. M. T., Newall, P. W. S., Lole, L., Rockloff, M., Browne, M., Greer, N., & Tulloch, C. (2022). ‘Immediate access...everywhere you go’: A grounded theory study of how smartphone betting can facilitate harmful sports betting behaviours amongst young adults. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00933-8

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00933-8

Keywords: gambling harm ; mobile devices ; mobile gambling ; online gambling ; problem gambling ; smartphone ; sports betting

Topics: Online Gambling ; Sports Betting

Conceptual Framework Factors: Gambling Types ; Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Social - Social Demographics ; Social Factors

Study Design: Qualitative: Grounded Theory

Geographic Coverage: Australia, New South Wales

Study Population: A total of 33 participants who lived in New South Wales, Australia completed interviews with the researchers. They were between 19 and 29 years. Most were male (85%) and born in Australia (76%). All bet on traditional sports. About 39% also bet on esports, while 9% also bet on daily fantasy sports and another 9% bet on seasonal fantasy sports.

Sampling Procedure: The inclusion criteria reflected a purposive and theoretical sampling method. Participants had to be between 18 and 29 years old and live in New South Wales, Australia. They had to bet at least fortnightly on sports, esports, and/or fantasy sports. The researchers used soft quotas to ensure the sample was diverse in terms of age, gender, types of sports bet on, and whether born in Australia.

Study Funding:

Open Access funding was enabled and organized by CAUL and its Member Institutions. Funding for this study was provided by the NSW Government’s Responsible Gambling Fund, with support from the NSW Office of Responsible Gambling.