![Sample our Behavioral Sciences journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110801/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Behavioral-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
This research reports results from a survey of 1,101 lottery ticket buyers in Guangzhou, China. We found that the majority of lottery ticket buyers were young and middle-aged males with above-average-income and an education of high school/professional school or higher. Their buying behaviour usually continued for many years once they began to play. The amount of each purchase was moderate. Most reported spending less than 10% of their monthly income on the lottery each month. The majority claimed to buy lottery tickets purely for entertainment purpose while the second largest group bought lottery tickets in order to win money. The lottery business has provided more choices for meeting people's entertainment needs, and has great potential for further development. However, there were a relatively high percentage of buyers who bought lottery tickets beyond the level that was probably affordable given their income. This group should be paid special attention in order to avoid negative effects of the lottery.
Acknowledgements
The research is funded by Macao Polytechnic Institute as a part of a research program on Mainland China's gamblers. The authors thank Professor David Forrest of Centre for the Study of Gambling, University of Salford, UK, for his valuable suggestions for improvement and for polishing the English.
Notes
1. A survey in Minnesota of 15- to 18-year-olds found that 27% had purchased lottery tickets for themselves (Gearey, Citation1997). In Louisiana the percentage was 32% (Gyan, Citation1997). Studies of juvenile gambling in Canada shows that 66% of youngsters gambled with mean age of onset of gambling of 12 years old. Their gambling games include buying tabs and lottery tickets (Jacobs, Citation2000).