The Relationship Between Gambling Accessibility and Behavior Among Korean Adults

This is the first population-based study in South Korea to examine the comprehensive nature of gambling accessibility. While most previous studies have examined only the physical aspects of gambling accessibility, this study accepts that gambling accessibility is multi-dimensional comprising physical, social, and cognitive accessibility, and tests the predictive power of each dimension of gambling behavior. We measured gambling behaviors in three ways: problem gambling, time spent on gambling, and gambling expenditure. Using a proportional quota sampling method (based on gender, age, and region) to represent the general Korean population, we identified 8245 adults (aged 19–69 years), and 2044 participated in online survey from July 1 to July 9, 2021. Study findings revealed that, among the three accessibility dimensions, social accessibility was the strongest predictor of all three gambling behavior measures. Study findings provide insights for developing culturally sensitive gambling prevention programs and highlight the importance of a comprehensive examination of the relationship between gambling accessibility and gambling behavior.