Esports bettors versus traditional sports bettors: Differences in demographics, impulsivity, psychopathological symptoms, and gaming and gambling behavior

IF 4.8 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Comprehensive psychiatry Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-29 DOI:10.1016/j.comppsych.2026.152667

Harshdeep S. Mangat , Orsolya Király , Róbert Urbán , Shu M. Yu , Mark D. Griffiths , Borbála Paksi , Katalin Felvinczi , Zsolt Demetrovics , Andrea Czakó

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background and aims

Esports betting (i.e., betting on the outcome of professional competitive videogaming matches) has become a regular feature of most online gambling websites in recent years. The present study compared differences between esports bettors and traditional sports bettors, in addition to exploring factors that predict participation in esports betting.

Methods

Data regarding demographics, impulsivity, psychopathological symptoms, gaming, and gambling among 359 esports bettors (mean age = 37.98 years [SD = 13.64]; 86.9% male) and 326 sports bettors (mean age = 43.79 years [SD = 13.75]; 91.7% male) from the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Canada were collected through surveys via two gambling service providers (Betway and Midnite) and a gaming magazine.

Results

Compared to sports bettors, esports bettors were significantly younger, scored higher on gambling risk severity, and had more gaming disorder symptoms. Esports bettors were also more likely than sports bettors to report higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and impulsivity, as well as be driven by coping, social, and financial motives to engage in betting. In an unadjusted binary regression model, being younger, being driven by coping, social, and financial motives, and reporting elevated levels of impulsivity, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were predictors of esports betting. Higher rates of problem gambling severity and gaming disorder symptoms were also predictors of esports betting.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that esports bettors are a distinct betting group, and vulnerable to multiple gaming/gambling-related harms and psychopathological harms.

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电子竞技投注者与传统体育投注者：人口统计学、冲动性、精神病理症状以及游戏和赌博行为的差异。

背景和目的：近年来，电子竞技博彩（即对专业竞技电子游戏比赛的结果下注）已成为大多数在线赌博网站的常规功能。本研究比较了电子竞技投注者和传统体育投注者之间的差异，并探索了预测电子竞技投注参与的因素。方法：通过两家赌博服务提供商（between and Midnite）和一本游戏杂志，收集来自英国、匈牙利和加拿大的359名电子竞技投注者（平均年龄37.98岁[SD = 13.64]，男性占86.9%）和326名体育投注者（平均年龄43.79岁[SD = 13.75]，男性占91.7%）的人口统计学、冲动、精神病理症状、游戏和赌博数据。结果：与体育投注者相比，电子竞技投注者明显更年轻，赌博风险严重程度得分更高，并且有更多的游戏障碍症状。电子竞技投注者也比体育投注者更有可能报告更高水平的压力、焦虑、抑郁症状和冲动，并受到应对、社会和经济动机的驱使而参与投注。在未经调整的二元回归模型中，年轻、受应对、社会和经济动机驱动、冲动、抑郁、焦虑和压力症状水平升高是电竞投注的预测因素。问题赌博严重程度和游戏障碍症状的较高比率也是电子竞技赌博的预测因素。结论：研究结果表明，电子竞技投注者是一个独特的投注群体，容易受到多种游戏/赌博相关伤害和精神病理伤害。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Comprehensive psychiatry 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

12.50

自引率

1.40%

发文量

审稿时长

29 days

期刊介绍： "Comprehensive Psychiatry" is an open access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the field of psychiatry and mental health. Its primary mission is to share the latest advancements in knowledge to enhance patient care and deepen the understanding of mental illnesses. The journal is supported by a diverse team of international editors and peer reviewers, ensuring the publication of high-quality research with a strong focus on clinical relevance and the implications for psychopathology. "Comprehensive Psychiatry" encourages authors to present their research in an accessible manner, facilitating engagement with clinicians, policymakers, and the broader public. By embracing an open access policy, the journal aims to maximize the global impact of its content, making it readily available to a wide audience and fostering scientific collaboration and public awareness beyond the traditional academic community. This approach is designed to promote a more inclusive and informed dialogue on mental health, contributing to the overall progress in the field.