Exploring the perceptions and psychological dimensions of gambling among Czech citizens

• In Event: Mental Health and Crime

Abstract

Gambling is an important aspect of modern society and influences many aspects of social reality. Therefore, they have long been a subject of interest in various scientific disciplines. The Czech Republic has long been one of the countries with the highest availability of gambling. The number of casinos and technical games (EGMs) per capita ranks among the world leaders. In 2022, the average Czech citizen invested 3,500 € in gambling, totalling over 30 billion €. However, previous research on gambling has generally focused only on the prevalence and negative impacts of primarily hard forms of gambling, while soft forms of gambling have been overlooked. Yet, these are the most widespread and accessible forms. Gambling can have serious consequences for the mental well-being of individuals, as well as their families and communities. Moreover, it can strain family ties and lead to domestic violence, divorce, and child neglect. Gambling facilities themselves are often seen negatively by the population for instance as a source of social problems, linked with increased alcohol consumption and antisocial behaviour. It is still not entirely clear what role space plays in people's gambling behaviour and whether increased accessibility also has an impact on the increased frequency of participation in such games in society. Attitudes towards soft gambling and perceptions of its riskiness were investigated in the general population through a questionnaire survey. This paper focuses on the availability of gambling and riskiness, which varies across types of gambling concerning the potential for problem gambling in the population. It seeks to establish the level of popularity, availability and factors associated with the risk of problem gambling in different forms. Additionally, it aims to achieve a complete understanding of the phenomenon of gambling with varying degrees of social danger in real life, i.e., mainly in its geographical and psychological context.

Author

• Filip Kovařík, Palacký University Olomouc