Predictors of adverse gambling behaviours amongst elite athletes

Abstract

Problem gambling levels amongst elite sportspeople are above populational baseline. We assess gambling in an elite Irish sporting population. An anonymous web-based questionnaire including the validated Problem Gambling Severity Index was distributed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate predictors of moderate/high risk gambling. 608 players (mean age 24) were included. Seventy nine percent of respondents were current gamblers and 6% problem gamblers. Amongst high-risk gamblers, significantly more were male (100% vs 76%, p = 0.003), fewer completed university (52% vs 69%, p = 0.024), and more were smokers (48% vs 24%, p = 0.002). They were also more likely to avail of free online gambling offers (90% vs 44%, p < 0.001), gamble with teammates (52% vs 21%, p < 0.001) and have placed their first bet before age 16 (41% vs 19%, p = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, moderate/high risk gambling was associated with: male gender (OR = 8.9 [1.1–69], p = 0.035), no 3rd level education (OR = 2.5 [1.4–5.0], p = 0.002), free online gambling use (OR = 4.3 [2.1–5.3], p < 0.001), gambling with teammates (OR = 3.0 [1.7–5.3], p < 0.001), and being under 18 at first bet (OR = 2.0 [1.1–3.3], p = 0.013). This study shows a harmful gambling culture amongst elite Irish athletes. Male gender, lower educational status, free online gambling use, gambling with teammates and first bet at less than age 18 were associated with moderate/high risk gambling. These groups may benefit from targeted interventions.

Antrodin C Isolated from Antrodia Cinnamomea Induced Apoptosis through ROS/AKT/ERK/P38 Signaling Pathway and Epigenetic Histone Acetylation of TNFα in Colorectal Cancer Cells

“…These cell lines were selected to have a different genetic background, which usually results in a different response to natural chemotherapeutic agents rather than HCoEpiC normal epithelial cells. Studies have shown that Antrodia cinnamomea possesses an extensive range of pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor activity, by increasing the expression of p53 and Bax [ 44 ]. Further findings showed that antrodin C potently inhibited viability, inducing apoptosis triggered by ROS, and arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase via a p53 signaling pathway in lung cancer cells [ 15 ].…”

A thematic analysis of alcohol use and culture amongst elite (intercounty) Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) players

“…These findings replicate prior studies of both elite and non-elite male GAA players [ 10 , 22 , 23 ]. Interestingly, the gambling section of this survey showed problem gambling rates of 6%, far in excess of the population baseline [ 13 ]. In multivariate analysis, having gambled in the past year had an odds ratio of 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.3–3.9) for adverse alcohol use (AUDIT-C ≥ 5) [ 12 ].…”

“…The 32-question questionnaire was part of a larger 61 question study entitled Alcohol and Gambling in Inter-county GAA Players . It involved quantitative and qualitive components and is described in detail in a prior paper in this journal and another [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Measures of problem gambling, gambling behaviours and perceptions of gambling in Ireland

“…4 We discuss reasons for these differences in detail in the following chapter, but intuitively, this difference may be due to the increased level of anonymity afforded in online surveys; participants may be more willing to answer questions about their gambling behaviour honestly if they do not need to respond in the presence of an interviewer (see also CSO, 2023a). Recent research with senior intercounty Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) players, which involved administering the PGSI via an anonymous, online survey, recorded a PG prevalence rate of 4.7% (Turk et al, 2023). While there is international evidence to suggest that elite athletes experience PG at higher rates than the general population, a PG prevalence difference that is 15 times higher among senior GAA players than in the general population is implausibly high.…”