Income Elasticity of Demand for Horse Wagering – Large-Scale Evidence from Online Betting Accounts

Abstract

The paper investigates income elasticity of demand for online horserace betting, using individual account data and administrative data from Finland. Overall income elasticity is positive but low. However, elasticity varies substantially across the income distribution from near-zero at the bottom to unity among higher income groups. Increased betting expenditure as income increases is associated with greater intensity rather than with greater frequency of betting.