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The Risk of Online Gambling: a Study of Gambling Disorder Prevalence Rates in Spain

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Abstract

Since the 1990s, gambling has been considered a public health concern. The characteristics of games and the environments in which gambling is carried out are major causes of gambling disorder. Information and communication technologies (e.g., Internet, mobile phones) have been adapted for gambling, and new forms of online gambling have appeared.

Online gambling is currently legal in many countries worldwide, and it is continuing to expand globally. In Spain, online gambling has been legal since 2012, when the government authorized companies to operate in this space. Many other countries have been through a similar process of legalization and the promotion of online gambling.

In this study, we analyzed the prevalence of gambling disorder in Spain, as well as differences between online and traditional gambling, according to sex and age group. Prevalence indicators of gambling disorder were higher than expected, and this result was especially evident with regard to online gambling.

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Notes

  1. The terms “pathological gambling” and “gambling disorder” are used interchangeably. They are the terms used, respectively, by the WHO and the APA to designate the psychological disorder associated with gambling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology School, University of Valencia, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010, Valencia, Spain

    Mariano Chóliz, Marta Marcos & Juan Lázaro-Mateo

Authors
  1. Mariano Chóliz
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  2. Marta Marcos
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  3. Juan Lázaro-Mateo
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Correspondence to Mariano Chóliz.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with any gambling company. The first author subscribes to and is one of the signatories of the Auckland Code of Ethics for gambling researchers.

Ethical Approval

This study is in accordance with the ethical standards of the Spanish Government and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. The data of the survey were collected by the General Directorate of Gambling (Ministry of Finances, Spain). All data are anonymous and they are in accordance with Law 15/1999, of December 13, on the Protection of Personal Data.

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Chóliz, M., Marcos, M. & Lázaro-Mateo, J. The Risk of Online Gambling: a Study of Gambling Disorder Prevalence Rates in Spain. Int J Ment Health Addiction 19, 404–417 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00067-4

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