A Criminological Evaluation of the Impact of Gambling Addiction Among Youths (a Case Study of Youths in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria)
CHAPTER ONE
General Objective
The broad objective of this research is to examine effects of gambling on youth. Specifically, the study will seek to:
- Establish factors that influence gambling of youth in Akwa Ibom state.
- Investigate the effect of gambling addiction of youth in Akwa Ibom state
- Explore the prevalence of gambling among youth.
- Make policy recommendation for ameliorating gambling
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This chapter does a presentation of literature upon which the study is based. The three main sections are: theoretical literature, empirical literature and overview of literature. Theoretical literature review explains some theories that support this research. Empirical literature presents in detail other empirical works that have been done in this area of study. Overview of literature will present strengths and weaknesses in the reviewed literature and discuss contribution of this study to the existing knowledge.
Theoretical Literature
Probability theory
The term probability refers to the possibility or the chance of something happening. It is basically an estimation of relative average frequency of the event occurring in repeated and independent trials. The probability relative frequency ranges between 0% to 100% and it allows us to predict the happening of the event without necessarily indicating the time of the happening. In any particular game, probability plays an important role in determining the terms or conditions to achieve some given results or some financial prospects in addition to the determination of worthiness of playing a given game. Probability can either be expressed in decimal or fraction form. Another way of describing probability is the use of odds in describing the chances of winning in betting or lottery (Turner, et. al, 2000).
The probability of success is the chance of success relative to the sum total of both the chances of success and failure. For instance, 1/4 can be expressed as 25 percent or in decimal places as 0.25. If there are 4 tickets in total and a player picks one of the tickets, then the chances of success would be 1/4 or 0.25. The odd ration shows the ratio of success to failure the odd ratio would be 3 to 1 implying that there are 3 probabilities of losing and only one opportunity to win. In converting the odds into probability of winning, you just use the chances of success as numerator and the total chances as denominator. When chance of winning equals’ chance of losing in an odd ratio, that’s referred to as an even odd and a payout of the same ration is referred to as even money (Turner, et. al, 2000).
It is important to estimate the available number of opportunities for any occurrence in a game in computation. In an instance of loyalty in any lottery, the probability of winning increases with the number of tickets bought. In other words, the more tickets are bought the higher the chances of winning. While playing in a random event, much of the systems and beliefs in the gambling are more of misconceptions and players imagine that as they keep playing they will eventually emerge as winners. Although random events are not predictable, not planned and erratic in nature, sometimes they apparently serve a purpose or follow a pattern. The essence of random selection is an ideal that is not usually obtained. The use of gambling machines in casinos is very efficient in maximizing uncertainty and thus their results are near randomness (Turner, et. al, 2000). Gamblers persistently believe that there is a pattern of chance and this is traced from misunderstanding of two laws in statistics as follows:
Law of averages: The idea is to find out the average of things over time. Law of large numbers: It is based on the principle that outcomes closely approximate the mathematically computed probability by increasing the sample size (Turner & Horbay, 2003).
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Introduction
Herein the paper presents the methodology used in this study. It discusses the research design that was adopted, conceptual framework, theoretical model upon which the study is anchored, analytical model for estimation, definition, measurement of the variables, data sources and the diagnostic tests.
CHAPTER FOUR
EMPIRICAL FINDINGS AND RESULTS DISCUSSION
Introduction
This chapter contains interpretation of data gathered as well as analysis and discussion of findings obtained from researching determinants and effects of youth gambling in Akwa Ibom state. The chapter starts with the presentation of descriptive statistics, diagnostics tests followed by the models and concludes with the model results discussion.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND POLICY IMPLICATION
Introduction
This chapter consists of a summary of findings from the study, suggestions that policy makers could find useful, and proposes areas that need more research. All these are based on the findings of the study
Summary and Conclusion
The first objective of this study was to find out factors that affected gambling in Akwa Ibom state area using the primary data collected using a questionnaire. Using the probit model and marginal effects, the study established that factors such as Gender and income sources increased the probability of participation in gambling. Other factors such as Marital Status, Religion, Age and Education Level reduced the probability of the participation in gambling by Akwa Ibom state youths. The factors that had significant effects were marital Status and religion while age and education level did not have any significant effects on the probability of gambling.
Secondly the study sought to establish the effect of gambling on youths of Akwa Ibom state. These effects ranged from finance, health to drug abuse. The findings showed that majority of the gamblers experience a reduction in their incomes with 61.86 percent agreeing that gambling affected their incomes negatively compared to the 38.14 The study findings showed that majority of the gamblers did not agree that gambling affects their health conditions accounting for 53.23 percent. The rest of the 46.77 percent agreed that gambling affected their health condition negatively Majority of the respondents noted that gambling contributed to their engagement in drug abuse accounting for 74.31 percent while the 25.69 percent noted that their engagement in drug abuse was not due to gambling activities
Finally, the study explored the prevalence of gambling among low-income youth. The study noted that the betting behavior was more prevalent with 94.29 percent indicating that they would bet 0-6 times in a week. That was the indication that the gambling behaviour was a key activity for the youths who formed the response to this study. As such this is a red flag on the increased level of the gambling addiction in this area which is considered to be a low-income area in the city.
Policy Implication
One of the key findings in this study was that more men engage in betting behaviour compared to the women. This is an indication that men seemed to engage in this due to lack of employment or constructive activities to undertake. This study proposes proper measures by the government to create employment for the majority of the jobless. This will help to curtail their gambling behaviour.
Religion seemed to reduce the probability of one engaging in gambling within the region. Given this affirmation, the study recommends that government should involve the religious communities in addressing the menace of gambling behaviour that is associated with alcoholism, financial loss and addiction which causes other social problems such as crime.
As a way of reducing participation in gambling youths can be encouraged to get married because it is deemed to make people and especially the youths more responsible in a number of ways due to attached family duties.
Areas for further study
This study looked into the factors that influence participation in gambling behaviour and the effect on the low-income youths. Ideally, gambling is not just for the poor but seemingly a common behaviour even to the youth. This study recommends for a more inclusive study on that includes both low incomes and high-income families.
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