Abstract
Two representative U.S. telephone surveys of gambling were conducted—an adult survey of adults aged 18 years and older (n = 2,631)
and a youth survey of young people aged 14–21 years old (n = 2,274). Because the questions and methods were the same or similar
in both surveys, the data from these two surveys were combined into a single dataset to examine the prevalence and sociodemographic
correlates of gambling and problem gambling across the lifespan. The present work focused specifically on gambling on the
lottery which is the most prevalent form of gambling in the U.S. The frequency of gambling on the lottery increased sharply
from mid adolescence to age 18 which is the legal age to purchase lottery tickets in most states; lottery play continued to
increase into the thirties when it leveled off and remained high through the sixties and then decreased among those 70 years
and older. Considering multiple sociodemographic factors together in a negative binomial regression, the average number of
days of lottery gambling was significantly predicted by male gender, age, neighborhood disadvantage and whether or not lottery
was legal in the state where the respondent lived. These findings can be used to inform policies regarding lotteries in the
U.S.
and a youth survey of young people aged 14–21 years old (n = 2,274). Because the questions and methods were the same or similar
in both surveys, the data from these two surveys were combined into a single dataset to examine the prevalence and sociodemographic
correlates of gambling and problem gambling across the lifespan. The present work focused specifically on gambling on the
lottery which is the most prevalent form of gambling in the U.S. The frequency of gambling on the lottery increased sharply
from mid adolescence to age 18 which is the legal age to purchase lottery tickets in most states; lottery play continued to
increase into the thirties when it leveled off and remained high through the sixties and then decreased among those 70 years
and older. Considering multiple sociodemographic factors together in a negative binomial regression, the average number of
days of lottery gambling was significantly predicted by male gender, age, neighborhood disadvantage and whether or not lottery
was legal in the state where the respondent lived. These findings can be used to inform policies regarding lotteries in the
U.S.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10899-010-9228-7
- Authors
- Grace M. Barnes, Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- John W. Welte, Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Marie-Cecile O. Tidwell, Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Joseph H. Hoffman, Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Journal Journal of Gambling Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-3602
- Print ISSN 1050-5350