BlindGame

Ana Rita Farias (HEI-Lab)

COFAC (U Lusófona) - Leader
Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa

Gambling (or games of chance) has gained a strong following and grown in popularity among the Portuguese population. Although player profiles and prevalence in the population are already known, recent evolutions and numerous offers and cash bet modalities on digital platforms have been reshaping behaviours and attracting new followers. As this is a recent and changing reality, online gambling behaviours are not yet properly mapped within the Portuguese context. In this sense, this study aimed to examine this phenomenon, based on a sample of 2,028 young people aged between 15 and 34 years, residing in Portugal. The results indicate a significant prevalence of these behaviours, which are dependent on gender and age. Indeed, the prevalence decreases as age increases, with men adhering to and engaging more in these online gambling games, whereas women tend more towards gambling offline. The frequency with which these young people bet money online tends to be low to moderate, their spending is mostly controlled, and sports-based bets are the most popular kind. Even so, the mapping carried out suggests that there are reasons for concern for parents, educators, and public decision-makers.

10.54499/UIDB/05380/2020