Background and objectives: This study examines the association between physical activities and gambling, making a distinction between two characteristics of the former: intensity level and type (competitive/non-competitive).
Method: 316 adolescents from four high schools in Israel completed questionnaires.
Results: For males, participation in competitive athletic sports was associated with gambling frequency and problem gambling. For females, participation in competitive athletic sports was associated only with gambling frequency.
Conclusions: Both types of physical activity and gender are important when analyzing the association between gambling and sporting activities.
Scientific significance: Youths involved in competitive sports are at greater risk for gambling involvement. (Am J Addict 2015;24:200-202).
© American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.