Gambling spending is associated with accessibility of electronic gaming machines and neighbourhood socioeconomic status in Helsinki, Finland

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Author(s): Selin, Jani ; Okkonen, Pasi ; Raisamo, Susanna

Journal: International Journal of Health Geographics

Year Published: 2024

Date Added: November 12, 2024

This study examined the link between accessibility of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and the socioeconomic status of neighbourhoods in Helsinki, Finland. It also examined whether EGM spending is linked with EGM accessibility and the socioeconomic status of neighbourhoods. Accessibility was measured in terms of density of and distance to EGMs. This study used two databases: (1) socioeconomic status (SES) of the adult population, obtained from Statistics Finland, and (2) player account-based gambling data, provided by Veikkaus. The analysis included data on 71,669 adults who gambled on EGMs, 745 EGM venues, and 2,397.1 EGMs. The findings suggest that EGMs are more accessible in neighbourhoods with lower SES. The annual losses per adult are also higher in those neighbourhoods. In other words, people living in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods live closer and lose more money to EGMs, especially to machines close to their homes.

Citation: Selin, J., Okkonen, P., & Raisamo, S. (2024). Accessibility, neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and expenditures on electronic gambling machines: A spatial analysis based on player account data. International Journal of Health Geographics, 23, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-024-00379-2

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-024-00379-2

Keywords: Electronic Gambling Machines (EGMs) ; gambling accessibility ; gambling expenditures ; player-account data ; socioeconomic status

Topics: Gambling Exposure ; Game Types ; Information for Operators ; Priority Populations ; Slots and VLTs ; Socioeconomic Status

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Accessibility ; Social - Social Demographics ; Gambling Exposure

Study Design: Spatial Analysis

Geographic Coverage: Finland

Study Population: Adults (18+ years old) living in Helsinki, Finland, who gambled on EGMs (n = 71,669)

Sampling Procedure: Data were obtained from Statistics Finland and the gambling monopoly company Veikkaus.

Study Funding:

This study was supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Helsinki Finland. Open Access funding was provided by Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.