Cognitive distortions and problem gambling in sports betting

Abstract

Sports betting is an activity that has seen tremendous growth over the past decade. The integrative nature of sports betting in marketing mediums and the advent of modern technology makes it a particularly dangerous form of gambling. This study aimed to compare the cognitions of sports bettors and non-sports gamblers. A total of 713 participants were recruited, of which 80 were sports bettors, 270 were non-sports gamblers, and 363 were non-gamblers. Cognitive distortions were measured using the Gamblers Belief’s Questionnaire, which comprises two factors: Luck/Perseverance, and Illusion of Control. The results of a between-groups MANOVA showed that sports bettors recorded higher scores for Luck/Perseverance (M = 35.27, SD = 13.63) than non-gamblers (M = 17.60, SD = 8.20, p