1 in 10 Pennsylvanians participate in online gambling, study finds
That’s the conclusion of new research by Penn State University and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
US.- A report by researchers at Penn State University and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has concluded that about 1 in 10 people in Pennsylvania are engaged in online gambling. The study is an annual requirement after online gambling was legalised in Pennsylvania in 2017.
The aim of the report is to assist the regulator in its mission to assess and address problem gambling across the Commonwealth. The last results are based on a 2020-21 survey of more than 1,100 people in Pennsylvania.
The report found that men are more likely than women to participate in online gambling and that the most popular activity is sports betting, with nearly half of all who participate in online gaming engaged in sports betting.
Individuals spend almost six hours per week engaging engage in online gaming, and nearly half exhibit at least one problem gambling behaviour.
Glenn Sterner, lead researcher on the assessment, assistant professor of criminal justice, stated: “We believe that by collecting this information on a yearly basis, we will be able to obtain a more accurate picture of the impact of this policy change on Pennsylvania communities.
“If intervention is necessary, this evaluation will aid in the development of a data-driven response.”
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