The Relationship Between Video Gaming, Gambling, and Problematic Levels of Video Gaming and Gambling

Abstract

The relationship between video gaming and gambling was examined in a large cross-sectional sample of 3942 Canadian online panelists who responded to a solicitation recruiting individuals who regularly gambled or played video games. Most past year video gamers reported gambling in the past year (78.5%) and most past year gamblers reported playing video games in the past year (70.7%). However, frequency of involvement in gambling as well as all individual types of gambling was only weakly correlated with frequency of involvement in video games. Problem gamblers and problem gamers were found to have similar demographic features as well as high rates of mental health problems and impulsivity. Some differences did exist, with problem video gamers tending to be younger, somewhat less impulsive, less likely to have a substance use disorder, and more likely to have depression. Despite having similar profiles, overlap between problematic levels of gaming and gambling was modest, with only 10.5% of the 466 problem gamblers also being problem video gamers and 24.1% of the 203 problem video gamers also being problem gamblers. In general, the evidence would suggest that although the risk factors and manifestations of problem gaming and problem gambling are similar, involvement and/or overinvolvement in one is not a strong predictor of involvement and/or overinvolvement in the other.

A Literature Review and Gap Analysis of Emerging Technologies and New Trends in Gambling

“…A further area of focus in the literature, with 24 articles identified, relates to whether or not there is a relationship between gaming and gambling due to the similarities between the two activities (particularly video gaming and electronic gambling) "due to their similar automated function, immersive experience, and prominent audiovisual elements" [74] (p. 1). This has led to concern about whether video games are associated with an increased likelihood of gambling and problem gambling.…”

“…Forrest et al [77] found that the link between video gaming and gambling frequency was related to age, with those who did gamble being slightly older on average than those who did not. Based on a survey of 3942 people who regularly gambled or played videos, Sanders et al [74] found similar risk factors and manifestations of problem gaming and problem gambling but did not find that involvement in one activity predicted the other. Macey and Hamari [78] explored the relationship between video gaming, spectating e-sports and gambling.…”

Conduct problems and depressive symptoms in association with problem gambling and gaming: A systematic review

“…Based on case reports, Benarous et al (2019) identified an "internalized pathway" (involving depressive symptoms during adolescence) and an "externalized pathway" (involving conduct problems during adolescence) towards the development of gaming disorder in young adulthood. Indeed, subtypes of problem gamers have been identified depicting greater aggressive and/or depressive symptoms (Lemmens, Valkenburg, & Gentile, 2015;Myrseth & Notelaers, 2018;Sanders & Williams, 2019;Yu & Cho, 2016), with longitudinal studies identifying the predictive role of greater internalizing and externalizing symptoms for problem gaming (Krossbakken et al, 2018;Liu et al, 2018).…”

Are Some Subtypes of Video Gamer More at Risk for Gambling Issues? A Latent Class Analysis of a Canadian Sample of University Students

“…Although debate persists (Desai et al, 2010), linkages have been suggested to exist between problem gambling and problem gaming (King et al, 2011). Evidence suggests that individuals heavily engaged in video gaming or gambling activities share similar attributes, including mental health problems, among other things (Sanders & Williams, 2019). Researchers have proposed that experiences with video gaming technologies that mimic gambling serve to familiarize youth with gambling systems, youth who are otherwise unable to gamble legally (Delfabbro et al, 2009).…”

“…Although research exploring the connections between social online gaming and problem gambling has been growing (Derevensky et al, 2013;King et al, 2011King et al, , 2013, a consensus is still lacking on how to best measure problem video gaming (Griffiths et al, 2016;Petry et al, 2015). Recently, Sanders and Williams (2019) reported that although problem gambling and problem video gaming are not necessarily comorbid, ''risk factors and manifestations of problem gaming and problem gambling are similar'' (p. 559). Conversely, Molde and colleagues (2019) found a direct relationship between problem video gaming and future problem gambling in their longitudinal study in which individuals participated in a survey research design in two waves, one in 2013 and again in 2015.…”