Gambling Among the Players of the 4th League of Silesia Region and Their Marital Dtatus

Abstract

The research describes the phenomenon of gambling in a group of 583 footballers playing in the 4th league of the Silesian microregion. The objectives of the study were to identify the participation of footballers in gambling and to find an answer to the question whether, due to their marital status, athletes who are in formal relationships differ from players who are not in such relationships in the way of approaching the game. The research was carried out using the proprietary questionnaire, which was extended to the Canadian Gambling Games Index CPGI. The obtained results indicate that the respondents statistically more often engaged in gambling than the average Pole over 15 years old. A preferred form of game among the surveyed players was participation in betting on bookmakers. Footballers are at increased risk of becoming addicted to gambling. This problem affects over 12% of the surveyed players. An important predictor of gambling by footballers was their active contact with the game in childhood. Research shows that players who are married are more cautious about gambling than their colleagues in informal or single relationships.