L1 Impulsivity and online sports betting behavior: Untangling the causal relationship
Background: Online sports betting is growing in popularity worldwide and its legalization has been implemented in a growing number of international jurisdictions. Researchers and policymakers are concerned about possible negative individual and public health implications as cross-sectional studies relate online sports betting to a significant rate of gambling problems. To develop evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies for GD, there is a strong need to understand its underlying processes. It is well researched that impulsivity is a risk factor for GD. At the same time, studies on behavioral tracking data have shown that risky gambling behavior is an early marker of GD.
Aim: The innovative objective of the proposed project is to apply a cross-lagged panel design to determine whether increased impulsivity causes risky online betting behavior that in turn leads to GD.
Methods: In a longitudinal cross-lagged design, impulsivity, risky gambling behavior and gambling disorder symptoms will be assessed three times at three-month intervals. A sample of n=370 regular sports bettors will be recruited from the online gambling provider Tipico. Impulsivity and gambling disorder symptoms will be assessed via online experimental tasks and questionnaires. As a measure of risky gambling behavior, Tipico will provide the behavioral tracking data of included participants.
Expected results: The results will improve our causal understanding of problematic developments in gambling behavior and provide targets for early prevention measures, such as “applied games” to identify increased impulsivity early and potentially reduce it.
Staff: Dipl.-Psych. Anne Jacob, Dip.-Psych. Robert Czernecka
PI: Dr. Anja Kräplin
Funding: International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG)
Duration: 04/2023 – 03/2025
Documents for participants: