Game of Skill or Game of Luck? Motivations for Gambling

Abstract

The paper analyses the differences in gambling motivations of skill and luck gamblers based on the answers to a questionnaire distributed to students from the University of Pisa (Italy). We find that the probability of playing skill rather than luck games is positively correlated to being a male, to the socialization motive and to having a planning attitude and an interest in socializing. Instead, findings show that it is negatively correlated to the money motive, the perceived risk of losing social esteem, and age. Results are then applied to marketing strategies and public policies, with particular attention to the online environment.