The bidirectional relationship between gambling and addictive substances

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the co-occurrence of gambling activity and the consumption of addictive substances, such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs. By using a sample of 709 gamblers in Sardinia (Italy), a multivariate probit approach is proposed since it allows simultaneous study of the extent of correlation between the consumption of different substances.

Our findings document that, on the one hand, betting more money leads to an increase in the propensity to consume tobacco in the middle of the game, and, on the other hand, the simultaneous co-occurrence of smoking, alcohol and drugs drives up the probability of getting more involved in gambling activity. Knowing the positive reinforcing effects of addictive substances is the first step towards implementing the most effective prevention and treatment modalities for problem/pathological gamblers.

Keywords::

• addiction
• co-morbidity
• gambling
• health
• quantitative

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge an anonymous referee whose comments significantly improved the quality of the article. Ricky Troddione is also thanked for providing encouragement on this study.

Conflicts of interest

Funding sources: The research was conducted under a national grant (MIUR COFIN 2006 – ‘Le trasformazioni del consumo e del commercio e i loro effetti sull'organizzazione degli spazi e sulle architetture della città e delle aree metropolitane italiane’ – Local Research Unit ‘I centri del consumo come modalità di organizzazione sociale del territorio e come fattore di mutamento del paesaggio: il caso della Sardegna’).

Competing interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Constraints on publishing: None.

Notes

^1. The questionnaires were collected in 4 bingo halls, 2 hippodromes and 18 betting agencies in Sardinia, which represent almost all of the betting venues at that time (only one betting agency was excluded from our analysis since it did not give permission to administer questionnaires on its premises).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anna Bussu

Anna Bussu, PhD, is assistant professor in social psychology and psychology & law at the University of Sassari (Sardinia, Italy). She was an honorary judge (2011–2013). She teaches social psychology. Her research focuses in particular on social and pathological gambling, health risk behaviours and new addiction. She is research coordinator and life coach at the Centre of the Counselling and Coaching Service ‘OrientAzione’ (University of Sassari).

Claudio Detotto

Claudio Detotto, PhD, is assistant professor in economics at the University of Sassari (Sardinia, Italy) and CRENoS (Centre for North South Economic Research). His research concerns the economic analysis of crime, paying particular attention to the effect of crime on the economy, the negative externalities of tourism activity, and the measurement of economic efficiency. Recently, he has been involved in the study of risky health behaviours, such as suicide and addictive substances consumption.