The relationship between gambling and credit use in the UK

View Abstract View Snapshot Back to Search Results

snapshot summaries

Author(s): Brown, Sarah ; Dickerson, Andrew ; McHardy, Jolian ; Taylor, Karl

Journal: Applied Economics

Year Published: 2012

Date Added: October 02, 2019

This study examined the relationship between gambling and credit use within households. The researchers used a representative, pooled data from seven UK based surveys (the UK Expenditure and Food Surveys, 2001–2007). Results revealed that there was a positive relationship between gambling and use of credit. Households and individuals with credit repayment were more likely to gamble and to spend more money on it. While higher household income was related to less gambling, credit use was linked to more gambling regardless of income. Thus, it might be that both groups engage with gambling, but the higher income households have more resources to protect themselves against financial insecurities, while low income households do not.

Citation: Brown, S., Dickerson, A., McHardy, J., & Taylor, K. (2012). Gambling and credit: an individual and household level analysis for the UK. Applied Economics, 44(35), 4639-4650. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2011.593502

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2011.593502

Keywords: credit ; debt ; gambling ; risk-taking

Conceptual Framework Factors: Social - Social Demographics ; Psychological - Judgement and Decision Making ; Social Factors

Study Design: Observational: Cross-sectional

Geographic Coverage: United Kingdom

Study Population: UK residents who were aged 16 and older and living in private households

Sampling Procedure: Data were pooled from the UK Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS), 2001–2007. The EFS, now called the Living Costs and Food Survey, is an annual survey of around 6000 households per year.

Study Funding:

No source of funding was declared for this study.