The Attitudes of Gamblers – Examination of Hungarian Gamblers for Prevention Purposes

This study is comparative research that deals with the attitudes of gamblers, with a special emphasis on the prevention goal. Attitude refers to a gambler's opinion and attitude towards gambling. According to research history, attitude is closely related to past behavior and behavioral intentions. Previous research has also shown that attitudes differ between gambling addicts and non-addicts, and that problem gamblers have different attitudes towards gambling. In general, attitudes toward gambling are negative and gambling is believed to be more harmful than beneficial to individuals and society. The methodology of the research included the use of an attitude scale, the ATGS (Attitudes Towards Gambling Scale), in which the respondents had to answer 8 statements on a five-point scale. We examined the correlations of gender, age, and education level with attitude. Attitude can be an important indicator of future behavior and can help shape previous actions. The research results suggest that attitudes towards gambling are gradually becoming more accepting. Further research is needed to analyze the data in more detail and to better understand cultural influences on attitudes.