Report
Investigating the relationship between reasons for gambling and different gambling activities
This short report explores the reasons people give for taking part in gambling and how they relate to different gambling activities.
Discussion
Despite the caveat that the reasons for gambling were not asked in relation to specific activities, there are some clear patterns between the reasons people have given for taking part in any gambling activity in the past 12 months, and the types of gambling activities they have taken part in during the past 4 weeks.
Some common themes are apparent.
Coping and/or escapism motives are more likely to be given by people who participated in activities online. This was seen for bingo, casino, fruit and or slots, and betting on sports or racing. This suggests people who participate in these forms of gambling were also more likely to give reasons for gambling that aimed to reduce or avoid negative emotions. These types of gambling activities may act as a form of escapism.
Enhancement motives – gambling for fun and excitement – were mainly seen for private betting, football pools, betting on sports online, bingo online, and National Lottery draws and scratchcards. These motives were not seen for online casino games or fruit and slots, where escapism and coping motives were much more prominent.
In person activities were more likely to have social motives. Bingo in person and casino games in person both had social motives, it was particularly strong for bingo. However, this was not the case for placing bets (either sports bets or betting on other outcomes) where social motives were unrelated. This is likely because sports betting in person includes placing bets at a bookmakers, as well as attending race meets. If it was possible to separate out the latter there could potentially be an association with social reasons. Similarly, placing bets on the outcome of events in person would be done at a bookmakers.
Social motives were missing from, or were negatively associated with, all of the online forms of gambling activities.
Machine-based activities (casino and fruit and or slots) did not behave like other in person gaming activities as they were not related to social motives.
Money was not the key driver for most activities. The exceptions tended to be activities relating to the National Lottery; tickets, scratchcards, or online instant wins; products that have potentially large winnings.
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Reasons for gambling - Appendix A
Last updated: 30 January 2025
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