Associations Between Addictive Behaviors, Individual Characteristics, and the Use of Gambling Services Within the World of Gaming: Cross-sectional Survey Study

Mark Kisch; Anders Håkansson

doi:10.2196/29077

Associations Between Addictive Behaviors, Individual Characteristics, and the Use of Gambling Services Within the World of Gaming: Cross-sectional Survey Study

JMIR Serious Games. 2022 Apr 22;10(2):e29077. doi: 10.2196/29077.

Authors

Mark Kisch^{1

2}, Anders Håkansson^#^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
² Malmö Addiction Center, Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden.
³ Clinical Research Unit/Clinical Gambling Disorder Unit, Malmö Addiction Center, Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 35451974
PMCID: PMC9077510
DOI: 10.2196/29077

Abstract

Background: Gambling within the world of gaming is an emerging phenomenon that may share common conceptual characteristics with traditional forms of gambling. The current literature suggests a higher degree of problematic behaviors in this gambling pattern, but studies are few, prompting for further research regarding individual characteristics and comorbid conditions associated with this activity.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate correlations between the use of gambling services within the world of gaming and individual characteristics and addictive behaviors including problem gambling.

Methods: A cross-sectional web survey was distributed to an existing panel of online respondents in Sweden. A total of 2001 respondents were included. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests, followed by a logistic regression, were used in order to determine independent variables associated with gambling in the context of gaming.

Results: A total of 2.9% (58/1984) of respondents reported past-year gambling within gaming. Significant associations were found with male sex, younger age, history of treatment-seeking for alcohol problems, and higher Gaming Addiction Scale scores.

Conclusions: The demonstrated findings strengthen previously found associations between gambling in gaming and younger age, male sex, and problematic gaming behaviors. Additionally, the association with a history of treatment needs for alcohol problems adds to the previous impression of increased problem severity and comorbidity in within-gaming gamblers.

Keywords: addiction; age; behavior; behavioral addiction; cross-sectional; gambling; gambling disorder; gaming; gaming disorder; gender; mental health; online survey.