Trends in attitudes towards gambling among Finnish women and men: Cross-sectional population studies 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023.

Abstract

Aims: To compare the attitudes towards gambling in Finland by age among women and men from 2011 to 2023. Methods: Four cross-sectional random sample data sets of 15-74-year-olds were collected in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. The data were weighted based on gender, age and residential area. The eight-item Attitude Towards Gambling Scale (ATGS-8) was used. Results: Overall, public attitudes towards gambling were generally unfavourable each year, apart from 2015, when attitudes were favourable. Among women, attitudes became more unfavourable for those aged 15-29 years, whereas they became more favourable for those aged 45 to 74. Among men, attitudes became more unfavourable for those aged 15-44 years, whereas they became more favourable for those aged 60-74 years. Men aged 45-59 years were the only age group with favourable attitudes in 2023. Conclusions: Attitudes towards gambling were mainly unfavourable, with no notable shift observed between 2011 and 2023. The Finnish gambling monopoly system is set to be replaced by a licensing system, opening the online gambling market to competition. Because of this change, it is increasingly important to monitor attitudes towards gambling and possible changes in them in the coming years.