Gambling consumption and socio-demographic characteristics among help-seekers with gambling-related debt

Aims: Indebtedness is prevalent among people with gambling problems. However, little research has focused on socio-demographic characteristics and gambling consumption patterns of individuals who finance their gambling with loans. This study aims to identify how debt-financed gambling is associated with socio-demographics and gambling consumption among help-seekers in Finland. Methods: We analysed gambling consumption and socio-demographic characteristics among help-seekers who use debt money to gamble. The analysis is based on data collected by the Finnish gambling helpline Peluuri across 2019-2022 (N = 4202). We used ridge regression with bootstrap analysis to conduct the analysis. Results: 39.11 % of help-seekers reported gambling with debt money. Gambling with debt was the most prevalent in 2019 and reduced in subsequent years, most notably after 2020. Gambling-related debt was more prevalent among 35- to 54-year-old people and those active in the labour market. Online gambling and poker were associated with debt. Conclusions: The results show that risk factors for gambling-related indebtedness may be different than risk factors for gambling disorder and other harms. Interventions are needed to limit the possibility of accumulating gambling-related debt. Notably, population-level interventions, such as financial literacy campaigns and limiting the availability of instant loans and harmful gambling products, are needed to protect public health.