Significant wins and other predictors of problem gambling in French and Polish adults who gamble on pure chance games

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Author(s): Lelonek-Kuleta, Bernadeta ; Tovar, Marie-Line ; Bartczuk, Rafał P. ; Costes, Jean-Michel

Journal: Addictive Behaviors

Year Published: 2025

Date Added: June 27, 2025

This study examined the role of significant win and psychosocial factors in the development of problem gambling (PG). Adults who gambled on pure chance games were surveyed in France and Poland. Universal risk factors for PG included male gender, younger age, lower household income, current or past debt, and more frequent gambling. The risk of PG was also higher for gambling games other than lotteries. Coping and social motives were associated with a higher risk of PG, while financial motive was associated with a lower risk. Inter-country differences were also detected. Observing a significant win by someone in the social environment was linked to a higher risk of PG for French participants only. Only the highest level of gambling spending was associated with a higher risk of PG for French participants. For Polish participants, lower levels of gambling spending were associated with a higher risk of PG.

Citation: Lelonek-Kuleta, B., Tovar, M-L., Bartczuk, R. P., & Costes, J-M. (2025). Significant wins and their impacts: Predictors of problem gambling in French and Polish national samples. Addictive Behaviors, 163, 108266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108266

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108266

Keywords: gambling disorder ; problem gambling ; risk factors ; wins

Topics: Cultural Factors

Conceptual Framework Factors: Gambling Types ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Types - Motivational Characteristics ; Gambling Exposure

Study Design: Descriptive: Survey

Geographic Coverage: France ; Poland

Study Population: The Polish sample consisted of 3,143 people between 18 and 64 years old who gambled on pure chance games. Over half of the sample were women (53.10%) and over 35 years old (57.30%). The French sample consisted of 5,692 people between 18 and 64 years old who gambled on pure chance games. The majority of the sample were women (55.40%) and over 35 years old (72.20%).

Sampling Procedure: France: An online survey was conducted by Médiamétrie, an institute with a volunteer panel for online surveys. Poland: An online survey was conducted through the nationwide research panel Ariadna. For both samples, stratified sample selection was used considering variables such as gender, age, and conurbation/hometown size.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the Ministry of Health in Poland, Gambling Problem Resolution Fund.