Motivational factors for gambling and gambler profiles based on a population-based Finnish Gambling Harms survey

Background:Motivational factors for gambling are linked with problem gambling, yet, it has been studied rather rarely using general population samples. Aims:The purpose of this study is to define the profile for gamblers based on their motivational factors. Methods:Randomly sampled first wave of the Finnish Gambling Harms surveydata was collected in 2017 (n=7186) and the second wave in 2018 (n=2624). The population-based data were collected using the web- and postal surveys in three geographical regions. Both logistical regression analysis and McNemar’s test were used. Results:During the first wave, the most common motives for gambling included to win money (76%), positive feeling (67%) and to support good cause (24%). One year after, motivational factors remained mainly unchanged, except for supporting good cause. Young age and high income was linked with gambling for positive feeling, whereas women gambled more often than men to win money. Furthermore, 18–24-year-olds gambled to socialize more often than other subgroups. Moreover, 65-year-olds or older gambled to support good cause most often. Though, 25–34-year-olds and the homemakers/cares gambled more often to escape than other subgroups, while 55–64 year-olds gambled less to escape than other age groups. More detailed results including gambling participation will be presented at the conference. Implications for preventive work, harm reduction and for policy makers as well as for further research will be discussed at the conference, particularly from the perspective of socioeconomically vulnerable subgroups