PREVALENCE, ASSOCIATED FACTORS AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES OF GAMBLING AMONG YOUNG PERSONS IN ODEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The act of staking money or valuables on an unpredictable result in the hopes of gaining additional cash or merchandise is referred to as gambling. A substantial portion of youth engages in various forms of gambling. This research project therefore explores the prevalence, associated factors and prevention strategies of gambling among young persons in Odeda LGA. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 395 respondents and a well-structured and standardized questionnaire was used to elicit information from them. Data collected were analyzed with SPSS for descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed that 205(51.2%) were male, 244(61%) were between the age of 18-23, 227(56.8%) respondents were students, 240(60%) were persistent gamblers and 203(59.7%) do not wish to stop gambling. Gambling was prevalent among slightly above average of the respondents 202(51.2%). Majority of the respondents 136(34.09%) were moderately knowledgeable about Gambling and its consequences. Medium for gambling include borrowing money or sold anything to gamble which ranked first (X=3.04). Biological/genetic factor (X=3.86) ranked first in the associated factors to gambling and Setting budget limit (X= 2.81) was identified as the highest preventive measures employed by the respondents. Gender (r= -0.242) and Age (= 0.026) were significant predictors of Gambling prevalence. Employment status (r=0.132), Marital status (r=-0.164) and Moral perception to betting (r= 0.90) were significant predictors of associated factors to Gambling. The study concludes that Gambling was prevalent among the respondents however, gamblers employed some preventive measures in controlling its addiction. It is therefore recommended that targeted interventions aimed at reducing prevalence of gambling and preventing addicted gamblers to stop chasing losses should be formulated and implemented among young persons in the study area.