FINAL ONE!

An investigation into the gambling habits of male hurling players and female
camogie players
Jason Roche
20053562
A dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of the requirement for the Bachelor of
Business (Hons) Degree in Recreation and Sport Management
Waterford Institute of Technology
Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Science
BB (Hons) Recreation and Sport Management
26th April 2015

II
Statement of Originality and ownership of work
Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Science
BB (Hons) Recreation and Sport Management
Name (block capitals):………………………………………………………
I confirm that all the work submitted in this dissertation is my own work, not copied
from any other persons work (published or unpublished) and that it has not previously
been submitted for assessment on any other course, in any other institution.
Signed:……………………………………………………..
Date:………………………………………………………..
Student Number:…………………………………………..
Address:…………………………………………………...
…………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………….
Word Processer Count:…………………………………….

III
Acknowledgements
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for my thesis supervisors, in semester
one Todd Harrison, Jean McArdle in semester two, and Aoife Lane our lecturer
throughout the year. Their contribution must not be unrecognised as their advice,
guidance, knowledge and hard work throughout has been very much valued. Without
their expertise and direction this study may not have been possible.
I would like to acknowledge all my classmates who have been an inspiration throughout
pushing me to succeed especially Mark, Kevin and Gary. Thank you for supporting me
throughout the last four years in Waterford Institute of Technology. The memories will
last a lifetime. Also a big thanks to all lecturers who have taught me in my time as a
student and provided me with the skills and knowledge needed to complete this course.
To close I would like to thank my family and friends. My mother Geraldine who always
encouraged me to be the best I can be and my father Paddy for fixing my car when it
was in trouble. A huge thanks to my sisters Samantha and April for their advice and
ability to see the funny side of everything. I would like to thank my friends for the
perfect cups of tea they made me and for providing a getaway place where I could relax
and enjoy their company. Finally, a huge thanks to Erika Jackman who always picked
me up when I was down, your constant support and humour has not gone unnoticed.

IV
Table of Contents
Title Page
Declaration……………………………………………………………………...ii
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………..iii
Table of Contents……………………………………………………………….iv-v
List of Tables and Figures ……………………………………………………..vi
List of Abbreviations……………………………………………………...……vii
Abstract…………………………………………………………………..……viii
Chapter 1: Literature Review
1. Introduction……………………………………………………………2
2. History of Gambling in Ireland……………………………………..…4
3. Male vs Female Gambling………………………………………….….5
4. Prevalence of Gambling…………………………………………...…..6
5. Effects of Gambling………………………………………….……..…8
6. Athletes vs Non-Athletes ………………………………………….....10
7. Motives for Gambling………………………………………………...12
8. Summary and Rationale………………………………………………13
9. Research Questions…………………………………………………...14
Chapter 2: Methodology
1. Research Design………………………………………………………16
2. Study Population and Sampling………………………………………16
3. Variables/Concepts………………………………..………………….17
4. Data Collection Methods……………………………………………..17
5. Data Analysis…………………………………………………………18
6. Ethical Considerations………………………………………………..18

V
Chapter 3: Results
1. Research Questions………………………………………………...21
2. Description of Participants……………………………………........21
3. Form and frequency of gambling…………………………………..22
4. Amount of money gambled………………………………………...23
5. Mediums of gambling………………………………………………24
6. Have an online account………………………………………….....24
7. Team has a gambling problem………………………………..….....25
8. Gambling effected your sporting performance…………………......26
9. Male vs Female Gambling…………………………………….……26
10. Does Gambling Effect Daily Living……………………………......29
Chapter 4: Discussion
1. Overview……………………………………………………………34
2. Gambling Habits of GAA Players………………………………......34
3. Male versus Female Gambling…………………………………......36
4. Effects of Gambling…………………………………………….......37
5. Limitations………………………………………………………….40
6. Conclusion……………………………………………………….....42
7. Recommendations………………………………………………….42
References……………………………… ………………………………...44
Appendix A: Questionnaire………………………………………………49

VI
List of Tables and Figures
Table 1……………………………………….…………………………….21
Table 2……………………………………….…………………………….22
Figure 3…………………………………….…………..…………………..23
Figure 4…………………………………….…………..…………………..24
Figure 5………………………………………………...…………………..24
Figure 6a……………………………………………………………………25
Figure 6b……………………………………………………………………25
Table 7………………………………………………………………………26
Figure 8……………………………………………………………………..26
Figure 9……………………………………………………………………..27
Figure 10………………………………………………….…………………27
Figure 11………………………………………………….…………………28
Figure 12………………………………………………….…………………28
Figure 13……………………………………………………………….……29
Figure 14………………………………………………….…………………29
Figure 15……………………………………………………………………30
Figure 16……………………………………………………………………30
Figure 17……………………………………………………………….……31
Figure 18………………………………………………….…………………31
Figure 19……………………………………………………………………32
Figure 20…………………………………………………………………....32

VII
List of Abbreviations
GAA Gaelic Athletic Association
GMQ Gambling Motives Questionnaire
GPA Gaelic Players Association
IPH Institute of Public Health
SOGS South Oaks Gambling Screen
SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences

VIII
Abstract
Overview: Gambling is staking an item of value like money on an outcome that is less
than certain and is determined by some part by chance (Rickwood et al, 2010). The
outcome is less than certain as the event is in the future for example a horse race or a
soccer match. Lotteries, scratch cards and slot machines are all determined by chance as
the outcome is completely random. In recent times gambling and the negative
consequences associated with those with a gambling problem have been getting more
media coverage with some high profile GAA players suffering from a gambling
addiction.
Research Questions:
1. What are the gambling habits of GAA players?
2. Is there a difference between the gambling behaviours of male Hurlers and
female Camogie players?
3. Does gambling affect daily living?
Methods: A questionnaire developed from the South Oaks Gambling Screen (Lesieur &
Blume, 1987) was administered to 100 people, 53 males and 47 females. All
participants either played at senior level for their club or county in either Waterford or
Kilkenny.
Results: Ninety percent of participants have gambled at some stage before in their lives.
Gambling on horses, dogs, or any other animal was the most common type of gambling
with 68% having done so previously. The most common amount gambled in any one
given day was more than €10 up to €100 (36%). Almost half of males (49%) admitted
to gambling more than they intended. Thirty-six percent of males believe their hurling
team has a gambling problem and one in four males (25%) has placed a bet on a game
they are playing in.
Conclusion: the prevalence of gambling among males is far greater than females with
males also reporting more negative associations with gambling like being criticized
about their betting and feelings of guilt towards what happens when they gamble. In this
sample gambling was not a serious issue as prevalence rates were similar to those in
other studies of a similar nature. Further research is needed to determine possible
reasons as to why males gamble more frequently.

2
Introduction
Gambling is staking an item of value like money on an outcome that is less than certain
and is determined in some part by chance (Rickwood et al, 2010). The outcome is less
than certain as the event is in the future for example a horse race or a soccer match.
Lotteries, scratch cards and slot machines are all determined by chance as the outcome
is completely random. In recent times gambling and the negative consequences
associated with those with a gambling problem have been receiving more media
coverage with some high profile Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) players suffering
from a gambling addiction. Although there is a lot of attention surrounding this issue, it
is merely anecdotal evidence. In early 2014, the Irish Times reported that a quarter of
inter-county players believed gambling is an issue within the GAA. They also reported
that in 2012 one third of all calls to the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) were about
gambling addictions, and they are becoming increasingly mindful of the threat of match
fixing. Gambling has become such a concern that the GAA have put together a
document titled; ‘Gambling in Sport Recommendations for the GAA’, which gives
recommendations and advice for players, members, and clubs. It gives advice on how to
recognise a gambling problem, the repercussions for those caught match-fixing or
improperly influencing the outcome of a game and to report any inquiries made by any
third parties.
Many people enjoy gambling as a form of entertainment or social recreation but others
can become addicted and develop a gambling problem. To fully understand these
behaviours it is important to define some key terms use to identify certain types of
gamblers. A problem gambler is defined as having difficulties in limiting money and
time spent on gambling, which leads to adverse consequences (Australasian Gaming
Council, 2008). This can affect both physical and mental health as well as employment,
relationships with others and finances given the nature of the addiction. Although the
number of problem gamblers is not believed to be that high in Ireland, GambleAware.ie
a national organisation dedicated to increasing awareness and aiding those with
gambling problems has stated that less than one percent of those who need treatment for
gambling actually receive it. Another common term used to describe someone with a
gambling problem is a pathological gambler. A pathological gambler is defined as a
tenacious and frequent maladaptive gambling behaviour (American Psychiatric
Association, 194. Pg. 615). The main characteristics of pathological gambling being
incapable in controlling gambling resulting in substantial negative effects on monetary,

3
personal, familial and professional aspects of life (Blaszczynski & Nower, 2002). So
despite losing large sums of money or expending large periods of time gambling the
person continues to gamble.
The Institute of Public Health (2010) have noted there is very little information on
gambling prevalence in Ireland, justifying this study. They suggest that research should
be carried out on gambling in Ireland and this could be done through including
gambling related questions in census data or other more regular surveys. This study
aims to investigate the gambling behaviours of hurling and camogie players thus
comparing male and female gambling habits by distributing a self-report questionnaire
predominantly based on the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) develop by Lesieur
and Blume in 1987. The questionnaire was administered to 100 people both male and
female. This questionnaire is primarily used to diagnose pathological or problematic
gamblers but has been previously used in other studies of a comparable nature.

4
Literature Review
Project Summary
This study aims to identify the gambling habits of male hurlers and female camogie
players through the use of previously designed questionnaires. The population for the
study are male hurlers and female camogie players aged approximately between 18-36
years old so they meet the requirements to legally gamble. This project is of interest
because there is a dearth of information in Ireland regarding the gambling habits of
GAA players and the entire population in general.
Literature Review
There has been limited research conducted on gambling behaviours in Ireland according
to the Institute of Public Health (IPH) (2010); therefore comparisons will have to be
made to other countries like the UK, Australia, Canada and the United States of
America. Throughout this review gambling, and why it is an issue, will be discussed.
An American study using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) questionnaire, on
30 people who were either athlete, non-athlete or former athlete found that athletes’
(40%) bet on sport twice as much as non-athletes (20%) (Weiss & Loubier, 2010).
Although this statistic is interesting it must also be taken into account that the
participants in this study were people with a gambling disorder so a comparison with
the general public is not valid, but this does show the possibility of a correlation
between sports participation and gambling in general. Likewise in a study conducted on
college athletes and non-athletes, findings showed that the percentage of male athletes
considered to be problem or pathological gamblers was 26% in contrast to the non-
athletes which was 16% (Engwell et al, 2004).
To fully understand this behaviour it is important to define and differentiate between the
different types of gambling behaviours, pathological and problem gambling.
Pathological gambling is defined as “a persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling
behaviour that disrupts personal, family, or vocational pursuits (American Psychiatric
Association, 1994, p. 615). Another type of gambling behaviour called problem
gambling was recommended to be defined as “gambling characterised by difficulties in
limiting money and/or time spent on gambling which leads to adverse consequences for
the gambler, others, or for the community.” (Neal, Delfabbro, & O'Neill, 2005, p.3). Of
particular interest in this study are the gambling behaviours of hurling and camogie

5
players and what, if any, are the differences between their gambling behaviours. This
literature review will look at the history of gambling in Ireland, male vs female
gambling, the prevalence of gambling, the effects of gambling and athletes vs non-
athletes gambling behaviours.
History of Gambling in Ireland
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence about gambling in Ireland with several Irish tabloids
running with stories about gambling. The Irish Examiner published an article with the
headline “Gambling bomb has gone off” (Cahill, 2014). Other newspapers have put the
spotlight on certain Irish sports stars that unfortunately became addicted to gambling
accumulating massive debts in the process. Tyrone footballer Cathal McCarron was the
latest GAA star to be highlighted in Irish papers for struggling to deal with his gambling
addiction with the Irish Independent suggesting the talented footballer broke into a
friend’s house in an attempt to steal money to feed his gambling habit (Moore, 2013).
The IPH (2010) states there is enough evidence from other countries that suggests as a
result of gambling the physical, mental and economic effects can be severe, which
makes it unclear why research on this particular area has been ignored in Ireland.
Again there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that gambling is an increasing trend with
almost no figures on the prevalence of gambling. However, the total money spent on
gambling in Ireland was €1.6 billion in 2001 and in 2006 this figure rose to €3.6 billion
(Delaney & Wall, 2007). This is a 125% increase in only five years, and the likelihood
of this figure being even higher in 2014 is quite high as the majority of bookmakers
now have their own app or website where a person can create an account and gamble as
much as they like. An Irish website gambleaware.ie has estimated that Irish people now
gamble over €5 billion per year, this equals to €14 million per day or €10’000 per
minute and perhaps the most appalling fact is that less than 1% of people who need
treatment for their gambling problem actually receive it (Gamble Aware). The Gaelic
Players Association (GPA) and Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) have tried to address
the concern that gambling in the GAA is rising by bringing out guides for club and
county players educating them about gambling responsibly and what actions to take if
one believes they may have an addiction. What is known about gambling in Ireland is
that it is relatively overpopulated with bookmaker shops compared to other countries as
there is a shop per 3571 people in Ireland, whereas in Britain this figure is almost
double at 6770 (Irish Bookmakers Association, 2010).

6
Male vs Female Gambling
Gambling opportunities are more accessible than ever before; therefore men and women
can, with relative ease; place bets therefore driving consumption states Marshall (2005),
especially with the development of mobile friendly websites or apps that are now
available. Numerous studies have reported on the gambling behaviours of both men and
women, with the British Gambling Prevalence survey noting that men were more likely
to gamble than women (men 75% women 71%). These figures may be misleading as
this figure is of the amount of people who took part in the study and has gambled at
least once in the past year. This type of gambling could just have been buying a lotto
ticket. What is more noteworthy from the study was the problem gambling prevalence,
estimated to be 1.3% for men and 0.2% for women, meaning that men are much more
likely than women to develop a problem with gambling. In a study conducted by
Shaffer et al, (1999) they reported that disordered gambling has increased significantly
over the past 20 years. Although we have seen above that the prevalence of gambling
maybe only slightly higher for men over women, the prevalence of problem gambling
maybe significantly higher for males than females. In relation to the above study; a
survey of adult Iowans in the US including 470 online questionnaires and 1230
questionnaires over the telephone, determined that there was no difference between
male and female gambling prevalence in the past 12 months (male 68%-female-69%)
and lifetime gambling (both 91%), but similarly to the study above males were
significantly more likely to experience problem gambling symptoms (Gonnerman &
Lutz, 2011).
Prevalence of Gambling
Many researchers view gambling in different lights as Reith (2006) believes gambling is
“an enjoyable form of leisure, pursued for a range of reasons – to relax, to socialise, to
experience some excitement, and perhaps to win money”. This definition may be
appropriate to the vast majority of individuals who do not have a problem with
gambling. In contrast, this gambling definition is quite different as it hints that gambling
is risky as the outcome is determined by chance, “gambling can be defined as the act of
placing an item or value at risks based on hopes of gaining something of greater value,
with the outcome determined by chance” (Baker & Edwards, 2012). This definition
does not describe gambling as a “form of leisure” like the first definition and has no

7
mention of enjoyment or relaxation but more as an act of placing something of value
with the hope of gaining something with greater value.
The British Gambling Prevalence Survey was conducted in 2010 on over 7500
individuals and established that 73% of adults (considered over 16) had gambled at least
one in the past year. This translates to approximately 35.5 million adults which saw a
5% increase since the previous study in 2007(68%). In 1999 this figure was almost the
same with 72% of adults gambling in the past year meaning that gambling declined in
prevalence in 2007 but has now increased in 2010. Data gathered from this study also
determined what types of gambling were most popular with the national lottery
unsurprisingly the most popular type of gambling with 59% of the participants having
bought a ticket in the past 12 months. The next most popular gambling activities to
engage in was other lotteries(25%), scratch cards(24%), betting on horses(14%),
followed by playing slot machines(13%) and private betting(11%). An interesting
statistic found by this study was that in the past year males participated in sports betting
(21%), in contrast sports betting did not really appeal to females (3%).
A similar prevalence survey conducted in the United States found that over 80% of
American adults have at some stage in their lives gambled (National Research Council,
2009). This figure was slightly lower in a study of gambling prevalence in Southern
Australia as 68.8% of Southern Australian adults had gambled in the past 12 months,
and identical to all the other prevalence surveys mentioned buying lotto tickets(55.5%)
was the most popular form of gambling(Gambling Prevalence in South Australia, 2013).
In Canada, a gambling prevalence survey conducted on British Columbians found that
73% of adults have bet or lost money on some kind of gambling activity. This figure
does not vary too much from differenct gambling prevalence surveys but what is
interesting to note from this study is that in 1993 the gambling prevalence rate was a
massive 94% of the adult population which shows a big decline over the years (British
Columbia Problem Gambling Prevalence Study, 2013), but no possible explanations
were given for this reduction.
With minimal prevalence surveys carried out in Ireland the Institute of Public Health
Ireland (2010) have estimated that 40’,000 people (roughly 1% of the Irish population)
experience problem gambling. This may not seem like very many but it is worrying that
less than 1% of these receive treatment. In Australia it is thought that between 70%-
80% of adults gamble at least once a year and similar to other countries around 1% of

8
the adult population are thought to have experienced significant problems due to their
gambling behaviours (Productivity Commission, 2009). From all these international
studies it is a fair reflection to say that Ireland would probably have very similar
prevalence rates to countries such as Britain, United States, Australia and Canada.
Numerous studies have reported there is continuity in gambling participation for young
people but there has not been much research conducted about adults gambling
participation over time (Rodgers, Caldwell, & Butterworth, 2009). The prevalence of
gambling among college students has amassed a lot of attention in recent times with
Shaffer, Hall & Bilt (1999) stating that being a college student is an independent risk
factor for problem and pathological gambling. This study also highlighted that
adolescent problem gambling is more evident than adult problem gambling. If this is
correct then it is easy to see a transition from a college student/adolescent with
characteristics of a problem or pathological gambler to an adult problem or pathological
gambler.
Effects of Gambling
Some research has suggested that gambling is a public health concern as it has links to
many different types of conditions and behaviours (Lui, et al., 2012). As stated
previously the vast majority of people may not experience any adverse effects from
gambling as it is viewed as a recreational activity, but those classified as problem or
pathological gamblers may face severe consequences. An obvious effect of gambling is
the loss of money; depending on the amount this may have a minimal or severe effect to
a person. Clinicians have said that the signs and symptoms of anxiety are quite common
before someone becomes a gambler but Shaffer & Korn (2002) revealed there is not
sufficient evidence to suggest that anxiety disorders are associated with pathological
gambling. Results of a critical review by Crockford & el-Guebaly (1998) are that
pathological gamblers frequently have substance use disorders, meaning that
pathogocial gambling and substance use disorders like alcohol or drug abuse can go
hand-in-hand for some people. An important point made by these researchers is that
various governments further legalisation of gambling to boost revenues instead of
increasing taxes and VAT may resulted in the higher liklihood of individuals engaging
in problematic gambling behaviour (Shaffer & Korn 2002).
Gambling and crime can also correlate as Lesieur (1987) found that around 66% of
Gamblers Anonymous patients admitted to engaging in illegal activities to assist their

9
gambling habit. Although the researcher does not state what these illegal activities are,
it is not hard to imagine that these maybe crimes such as theft of money to fund their
gambling habits and this may have implications on relationships with family and
friends. The Australian Productivity Commission found that on average between 5-10
people are effected by any one problem gambler. These people may be friends, children,
spouses, family member’s and, co-workers as well as others. Also of note is that lying,
arguments and financial stress lead to significant pressure for families with 1 in 10
Australian problem gamblers saying that relationships have broke down because of their
gambling and a further 1 in 10 in councelling stating it has resulted it domestic violence
(Australian Productivity Commission, 1999). A study examining the children of
problem gamblers found these children have a much higher than normal association
with addictive substances, more educational problems and psycho-social problems
(Jacobs et. Al., 1989). A study using self-reporting and structured interview measures
carried out on 101 individuals with gambling problems but who had recently made
attempts to quit revealed that 36.8% of all participants have had suicidal taughts and a
further 32% addmitted to a failed suicude attempt (Hodgins, Mansley, & Thygesen,
2006). Gambling and depression are also linked as a study by Vasiliadis (2011) states
that out of 28 problem gamblers, 71.4% gambled because they are depressed. There
maybe a link between problem gambling and depression but it is not clear. Some
researchers have studied the relationship between gambling and depression and found
no relation. A study off 400 adults was conducted and concluded that there was no
relationship between gambling and depression (Thorson, Powell, & Hilt, 1994). Some
pathological gamblers may gamble as a means of escaping their depression while others
may suffer from depression because of financal strain and psychological distress linked
with gambling (Kim, Grant, Eckert, Faris, & Hartman, 2006). These studies have
proved that gambling can effect a person socially, mentally, physically and financially
so particulary attention should be payed to helping all concerned.
As seen above there are many potential consequences/effects of gambling depending on
the severity and the nature of gambling, but if this study concludes that participating in
sports is an independent risk factor for engaging in gambling activities then the required
measures should be introduced to educate those who participate in team sports as there
seems to be a dose response effect i.e., the more a person gambles the likelihood of
them coming across the problems mentioned above.

10
Athletes’ vs Non-Athletes
There is research that suggests that being an athlete may be a potential risk factor of
becoming a problem or pathological gambler. According to Curry & Jiobu (1995),
athletes are an interesting population to study their association with gambling by
studying their motives because of an athlete’s “athletic socialisation typically includes
an explicit and continuous emphasis on competition” which many believe to be one of
the primary motives for gambling. It is possible that being in a competitive environment
may increase their chances of developing problems with gambling. These authors also
believe that a lot of the motives for sport are intertwined with the motives for gambling.
An American study was completed where 20,739 surveys were returned by student-
athletes to determine whether or not student athletes were prone to problem gambling
behaviour (Ellenbogen, Jacobs, Derevensky, Gupta, & Paskus, 2008). This anonymous
survey had a combined total of 102 questions relating to sports betting experiences,
forms of gambling, other associated health risk behaviours and general questions about
their gambling behaviour. Results from this survey showed that male athletes (62.4%)
had gambled more than females athletes (42.8%) in the past year, but perhaps more
significant was how much more male athletes (13%) gambled weekly compared to
female athletes (3.3%). So concluding this study, male college athletes gamble more
frequently than female college athletes and also athletes who played high profile sports
were more likely to gamble than those whose sport is not so high profile.
An investigation conducted by Weiss & Loubier (2008) examined gambling behaviours
in the following three groups; former athletes, current athletes and non-athletes to see if
there was a delayed competitive effect which may lead to symptoms of pathological
gambling. The SOGS was administered to 100 people out of each group
aforementioned. The results of this study was that more former athletes (13%) were
considered pathological gamblers than current athletes (7%) and non-athletes (3%)
showing that those who are former athletes maybe be more susceptible to becoming
pathological gamblers. This study shows that young athletes may develop a gambling
habit while they play sport and once they retire this gambling habit may become
problematic, or gambling might become a substitute to the thrill they used to feel while
they played sport so they may try to replace this feeling by gambling. These authors
also stated that further studies should be carried out on why athletes may be more likely
to gamble than non-athletes.

11
A big ethical concern for sports is corruption, as a referee, manager or player maybe
bribed to influence the outcome of a game. If athletes playing sport are betting on
games/events they may be involved in or sharing confidential information as match
fixing cases can occur. The results of a study by Ellenbogen et al, (2008) which was
mentioned above suggests than roughly one player per team may be sharing information
to others or attempting to influence the result of a game for wagering purposes. In turn
this may jeopardise this persons chances of succeeding in the sport if the athlete gets
caught as they may be accepting payments to underperform in a match thus varying the
result. Rockey & King, (2006) state that the consequences for those who are caught are
severe with student athletes receiving a minimum one year ban if they are found to be
wagering on professional or amateur sports and those caught betting on an event
involving their own college results can receive a lifetime ban. In a document developed
to guide county players about gambling, the GAA and GPA suggest that it is safest to
never bet on your own sport. Although this is only a personal opinion the researcher
believes that betting on matches that a player is involved in is common practice among
the GAA community as the researcher has experienced this on numerous occasions
throughout a playing season. Research shown above indicates that those who are
considered athletes may gamble more regularly that those considered non-athletes.
Motives for Gambling
Binde (2013) developed a 5 dimensional motivational model which describes that the
fundamental motives for gambling as the “chance of winning money”, the “dream of
hitting the jackpot” (winning the lotto) which would most definitely change an
individual’s life, social rewards (meeting in the local bookmakers), intellectual
challenge, (poker games and horse betting as perceived to involve skill) and mood
change (e.g. only need one more number in bingo). These gambling motives are for
primarily those who are considered leisurely gamblers and perhaps the motives for
problem or pathological gambling may be slightly different. What is important to take
note is that gambling offers an arena for competing with others which make gambling
desirable to people of a competitive nature which is a similar characteristic of a sports
participant (Binde, 2013). In addition Curry & Jiobu (1995) have advocated that
competition has long been thought of as one of the main motivators for gambling and as
athletes have a continuous emphasis on competition these authors believe that gambling
and sports participation may be linked. A survey of 2’484 Connecticut high school
students which examined gambling related motivations found that those considered at

12
risk and problem/pathological gamblers were most likely to say that excitement,
financial, escape and social motivations for gambling compared to low-risk gamblers
(Yip, et al., 2011).
The Irish Sports Monitor (2013) studied the key factors for participating in sports and
found that 58% of males participated to spend time with friends/family and 33% stated
that the element of competition was a key factor in participating in sports. These two
factors, social and competition have been seen in the studies above as key indicators as
to why people gamble. A study of 849 frequent slot machine patrons who were analysed
using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and the Gambling Motives
Questionnaire (GMQ) found that 39% had a low risk, 38.9% with a moderate risk and
22.1% who were at a high risk of pathological gambling (MacLaren, Harrigan, &
Dixon, 2012). The GMQ is an adaption of a 3 motive model of alcohol consumption
with the motives being coping (avoid negative emotions), social, and enhancement
(increase positive emotions), which Stewart & Zack (2008) have stated is a promising
resource for researchers. The study mentioned above revealed that those at moderate
risk of pathological gambling had high scores on enhancement while those at high risk
of pathological gambling had increased scores on enhancement and coping. This
indicates that those who are susceptible to becoming a pathological gambler may do so
to increase positive emotions and avoid negative emotions. This is a strong indicator
that pathological gamblers are motivated to gamble by their emotions while the
previous study by Binde (2013) states low risk gamblers like to gamble for social
reasons or the dream of winning the jackpot. Overall the motives for gambling vary
from dreaming of winning the jackpot to a form of escapism.
Summary and Rationale
From the above there are suggestions that relate sports participation and gambling but
more research is needed especially in Ireland. The anecdotal evidence in Ireland would
suggest that gambling is becoming a danger to society but there is no hard evidence to
suggest this is what will happen. It is also clear that there is gender imbalances as male
are diagnosed frequently more as problem or pathological gamblers than women as
results from the British Gambling Prevalence Survey (2010) stated that problem
gambling prevalence was estimated to be 1.3% for men and 0.2% for women,
significantly higher. Another study showed that there was little difference between male
(68%) and female (69%) gambling in the past 12 months, but again the likelihood of

13
males becoming problem gamblers was far superior to females (Shaffer et al, 1999).
Based on this evidence the study of both males and females would be beneficial as the
state of research on male and female gambling in this county is poor.
The similarities of the motives for gambling and participating in sports have been
closely associated by some which makes studying this population’s relationship with
gambling interesting and worthwhile (Curry & Jiobu 1995). Weiss & Loubier (2008)
found that former and current athletes gambling much more often than non-athletes
indicating that there may be a link. From the above review of literature it is evident that
males gamble more frequently and to a higher extent then female and this study aims to
clarify this a bit more.

14
Research Questions:

16
Methodology
The following chapter aims to give a clear picture of how the research is to be carried
out including the research design, the study population, variables, data collection
methods, data analysis and ethical considerations. This is to give clarity to the reader
and so the study could be easily replicated if someone wished to do so.
Research Design
A quantitative research design was adopted for the purpose of this study. A
questionnaire adapted from the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) was used to
gather information. These questionnaires were then distributed to both male hurlers and
female camogie players playing at senior grade for club or senior grade for county aged
approximately 18-36 years old. These are a convenience sample for the researcher as the
researcher had access to these players. The SOGS was originally designed to help
diagnose those who may be either problem or pathological gamblers, but for the
purpose of this study the SOGS will be only used to gather information about gambling
habits. The SOGS questionnaire has been widely used across numerous studies and is
considered reliable and valid. The quantitative design of this study was one of a
descriptive nature meaning the researcher conducted a once off analysis of a certain
group of people at a particular moment in time.
Study Population and Sampling
The study population for this investigation were males and females aged between 18-36
years of age and participated in either hurling or camogie at either club or inter county
level. All participants were gathered from two club teams (n=26) and two county teams
(n=74). Although studies have shown that males gamble more frequently and encounter
more problems with gambling as the British Gambling Prevalence Survey (2010) found
that 75% of males had gambled versus 71% of females. They also estimated that
problem gambling prevalence rates were 1.3% for males and just 0.2% for women, but
it is important to investigate females gambling behaviour. The age bracket of above 18
is important as the legal age for gambling in Ireland is 18. Participants were recruited
for this study by getting in contact with secretaries and team management by both email
and text message. Convenience sampling was used to determine which teams would
partake in this study. Club and county teams from Waterford and Kilkenny took part in
the study due to their accessibility to the researcher. The emails and texts explained

17
what the study was about and asked would they mind if their team took part in the study
which would involve all players given their consent to fill in a questionnaire.
Variables/Concepts
The aim of this investigation is to find out what are the gambling habits of hurling and
camogie players and also to examine whether there is a difference between male and
female gambling behaviours. Of particular interest to the researcher was the forms and
frequency of gambling, how gambling affects the players, how much money they spend
on gambling and whether they had ever borrowed money to gamble. Another area of
particular interest was whether they had ever placed a bet on a game you’ve been
playing in. All this information and more were gathered through the questionnaire.
Data Collection Methods
All data was collected through questionnaires. The questionnaire used for this study was
an adapted version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). The SOGS was
originally developed by Lesieur & Blume in 1987 and was predominantly used to aid
the diagnostic of problem and pathological gamblers. The SOGS is a 16-item
questionnaire based on DSM-III criteria for pathological gambling where the answers
are scored leaving a result at the end (Lesieur & Blume, 1987).
Several questions were adapted and altered to make them appropriate to an Irish setting,
for example the currency was changed from the US Dollar to Euro and certain sports
like Hurling and Gaelic Football replaced sports like hockey and baseball.
Supplementary questions were added to enhance the relevance of the study so that a
greater amount of information could be collected. Some of the questions added were
demographical like; do you bet on sport? How often do you train on average? And what
is the highest level you play at Club/County? Additional questions included; do you feel
like gambling has affected you sporting performance? Have you ever placed a bet on a
game you are playing in? And do you think that your team has a gambling problem? As
the SOGS was developed almost 30 years ago certain questions were added to allow for
the development of technology, for example, do you have an online account with a
bookmaker?
The first section of the questionnaire obtained demographic details like age of the
person, as well as consumption behaviours such as whether or not they played sport,
how often they played sport and whether or not they gambled. The following section

18
examined the forms and frequencies of gambling, followed by monetary questions and
where the players gamble. The final section addressed whether the players had been
criticized about their gambling or whether they had ever borrowed money to gamble
(see appendix one for the complete questionnaire). All data was collected from the
Passage Senior Hurling Team (n=19), Lismore Senior Camogie Team (n=14),
Waterford Senior Hurling Team (n=35) and the Kilkenny Senior Camogie Team (n=33)
in late February 2015 to early March 2015.
Data Analysis
Once all the data was collected the results were processed by SPSS. As this was a
quantitative study the data was numerical. The demographics of the participants were
processed using descriptive analysis (mean scores for age, athlete/non-athlete). The
behaviours of hurler’s vs camogie will be thoroughly investigated through a selection of
crosstabs and shown in graphs. Some variables which were analysed were the
percentage of people who gamble, and age of participants was also categorized by
percentages. Mean scores were also gathered from certain questions like where does the
majority of your gambling take place? (E.g. 20% gamble online, 70% gamble in
bookmakers, 10% gamble in a casino). The independent variable (IV) being the sports
participant/non-participant and the dependent variable (DV) being the different
gambling behaviours, one is influencing the other. Crosstabs were also used to help
analyse the data.
Ethical Considerations
While conducting any study ethics must be considered as the participants of the study
have many rights. First of all approval was granted by the Department of Health, Sport
and Exercise Science. Based on the scoring system of the SOGS questionnaire the
researcher could potentially diagnose some participants as problem or pathological
gamblers based on the score they accumulated through completing the questionnaire.
The researcher with this knowledge used the results strictly for the purpose of the
investigation. It is important to note that all data collected was entirely anonymous so
no identities were ever known giving the participants full confidentiality. It is also
important that the participant knows that once the questionnaire is submitted to the
researcher the questionnaire cannot be retracted as the researcher does not know the
identity of any participants’. This will be explained before the questionnaires are

19
distributed. The data itself was stored securely and the results are stored on a password
encrypted where only the researcher has access to.

21
Results
This chapter characterises the findings gathered from the questionnaires administered to
hurlers and camogie players. The population either played at senior level with their club
or senior level with their county. All participants played in either Waterford or
Kilkenny. Respondents were both male and female and all actively participate in sport.
The following questions gave the study direction.
Table 1 gives a simple description of the participants in this study. 100 people
participated in this study, 53 were male and 47 were female. The vast majority of
participants were aged 18-29 (93%) and 74% were part of a county team. All of the
study population either play hurling or camogie at either club or county level. All
participants also trained a minimum of 2 times a week and a maximum of 7 times a
week.
Table 1: Description of participants
%
Gender (sport) Male (hurling)
Female (camogie)
53
47
Age 18-23
24-29
30-35
35>
66
27
6
1
Training per week 2-3
4-5
6-7
34
64
2
Highest level Club
County
26
74

22
Forms and Frequencies of gambling
Table 2 below illustrates what forms of gambling are most popular for all participants in
the study. Participants answered either never, less than once a week (meaning they do
for example bet on sport but not as often as once a week), or once a week or more
(meaning they bet on sport at least once a week). Betting on sports such as GAA, soccer
and other sports was the most popular form of gambling as a little over one-fifth (21%)
do so once a week or more. This was closely followed by betting on horses, dogs, or
other animals as 17% of all participants do so once a week or more. The least common
forms of gambling happened to be playing the stock market with 94% of all participants
never doing so; also 87% of respondents have never played dice games for money.
Almost half of participants (46%) have at least once before played a game of skill like
pool, darts, or golf for money.
Table 2: Form and frequency of gambling
Form of Gambling Never% Less than once a
week%
Once a week or
more %
Played cards for
money
52 43 5
Bet on horses, dogs,
or other animals
32 51 17
Bet on sport (GAA,
Soccer, Golf)
42 37 21
Played dice games,
including craps, over
and under
87 9 3
Went to casinos 66 30 4
Played Bingo 74 21 1
Played any lotteries
(local or national)
54 34 11
Played the stock
market
94 5 1
Played slot
machines, poker
machines
59 37 1
Played a game of
skill like pool/golf
for money
54 40 6
Played pull tabs or
scratch cards
52 45 3

23
Largest amount of money gambled
Research revealed that 10% of all participants had never gambled. The most common
amount gambled in any one given day was more than €10 up to €100 (36%), closely
followed by €1-€10 (29%) the third most common amount of money gambled on any
one day was €100-€1000 (18%). Table 3 specifies the findings.
Figure 3: Largest amount of money ever gambled with on any one-day?
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Never Gambled €1.00 or Less More than
€1.00 up to
€10.00
More than
€10.00 up to
€100.00
More than
€100.00 up to
€1000.00
More than
€1000.00 up to
€10000.00
%ofPopulation
Largest amount of meoney
gambled with on any one-day

24
Mediums of Gambling
Figure 4 specifies where the participants game most often. The most popular medium
through which to place a bet was in the bookmakers (47%), with online the second most
common medium used to place a bet (24%). Another option was in a casino but none of
the participants identified a casino as the most common place for them to gamble.
Figure 4: Where would you gamble most often?
Figure 5 illustrates the percentage of participants who have at least one online gambling
account. Just below half (43%) of study participants indicated that they have an online
account, but betting in bookmakers (47%) is twice as popular as betting online (24%) as
seen in figure 4 above. Also males (60%) were almost 3 times more likely to have an
online account than females (23%). After conducting a Mann Whitney test this
difference was found to be significant (p=.000).
Figure 5: Do you have an online account with a bookmaker?
47%
24%
2%
27%
Bookmakers
Online
At the racetrack
Don’t Gamble
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Male with account
Female with account
Yes %
No %
% of Population
Have an online account

25
Team has a gambling problem?
Figure 6a illustrates those who thought their team had a gambling problem. Almost one-
fifth (19%) of participants believed their team had a gambling problem but after further
analysis on gender, it was only the males that taught their team had a gambling problem.
Figure 6a/b: Do you think your team has a gambling problem?
Figure 6a.
Figure 6b shows that over a third (36%) of males believe their team has a gambling
problem. There was proved to be a significant difference between male and female
opinions regarding whether they taught their team has a gambling problem by
conducting a Mann Whitney test (p=.000).
Figure 6b.
19%
81%
Yes
No
36%
64%
Male
Yes
No

26
Table 7 displays what participants said when asked had gambling affected their sporting
performance. An overwhelming majority (91%) responded with “not at all” while 7%
stated that gambling had a very little effect on their sporting performance. Just 1% (n=1)
stated that gambling often affects their performance and 1% (n=1) said that gambling
always affected their sporting performance.
Table 7: Gambling affected your sporting performance?
Not at all Very little Often Always
Total
Responses
91% 7% 1% 1%
Male vs Female Gambling
Below in figure 8 we can see a gender breakdown of the largest amount of money
gambled with on any one given day. Most common amount for males was more than
€10 up to €100 (n=22) closely followed by more than €100 up to €1000 (n=18). For
females the largest amount gambled was more than €1 up to €10 (n=25) followed by
more than €10 up to €100 (n=14).
Figure 8: Largest amount of money ever gambled with on any one-day?
Never
Gambled
€1 or less
More than €1
up to €10
More than
€10 up to
€100
More than
€100 up to
€1000
More than
€1000 up to
€10000
Male 5 0 4 22 18 4
Female 5 3 25 14 0 0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
%ofPopulation

27
Figure 9 shows the proportion of males and females that have bet on a game they are
playing in. One in four males (25%) have at least once placed a bet in a game that they
are playing whereas only a very small percentage (2%) of woman (n=1) have placed a
bet on a game that they are playing in. This difference was found to be significant
though testing using a Mann Whitney test (p=.001).
Figure 9: Have you ever placed a bet on a game you are playing in?
Figure 10 shows the percentage of both males and females that gambled more than they
intended to. Almost half (49%) of males admitted to gambling more than they intended
to, while in comparison much fewer females (11%) admitted gambling more than they
initially intended to. A Mann Whitney test verified this result as significant (p=.000).
Figure 10: Did you ever gamble more than you intended too?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Male
Female
49%
11%
Male
Female

28
Findings showed that that the majority of females (89%) never go back gambling
another day to win back money they had previously lost. In contrast just over half
(52%) of males have gone back another day to win back the money they previously lost.
See figure below.
Figure 11: When you gamble, how often do you go back another day to win back the
money you have lost?
Research revealed that all females (100%) never claimed to be winning money
gambling, when in fact they lost. Figure 12 below describes the male’s results. An
overwhelming majority (85%) of males also answered never, but almost one in ten (9%)
said the yes, less than half the time I lost I claimed to be winning, while a further 6%
(n=3) said that most of the time they lost they claimed to be winning.
Figure 12: Have you ever claimed to be winning money gambling, but weren’t really? In
fact, you lost?
Never Some of the time Most of the time Every time I lose
Male 42% 42% 8% 2%
Female 89% 6% 2% 2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
%ofPopulation
85%
9% 6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Never Yes, less than half the time I
lost
Yes, most of the time
Male

29
Does Gambling Effect Daily Living
It is clear to see in figure 13 that almost one in three males (32%) have been criticised
about their gambling whereas no females (0%) have reported been criticised by others.
After performing a Mann Whitney test this difference was found to be significant
(p=.000).
Figure 13: Have people criticised your betting or told you that you had a problem,
regardless of whether or not you taught it was true?
In figure 14 we can see that exactly one in four (25%) males has felt guilty about the
way they gamble or what happens when they gamble. In comparison only 4% (n=2) of
females reported feeling guilty about their gambling. This difference was found to be
significant through the use of a Mann Whitney test (p=.005).
Figure 14: Have you ever felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when
you gamble?
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Male Female
%ofPopulation
Gender
Criticised about your betting
25%
4%
Male
Female

30
Figure 15 shows almost one in five (19%) males admitted to feeling like they would like
to stop betting but did not think they could, again no females reported the same feeling.
This variance was found to be significant after undertaking a Mann Whitney test
(p=.002).
Figure 15: Have you ever felt like you would like to stop betting money on gambling, but
didn’t think you could?
Figure 16 illustrates that males (25%) are more likely to hide betting related material
from those close to them compared to females (4%). This difference was found to be
significant after carrying out a Mann Whitney test (p=.005).
Figure 16: Have you ever hidden betting slips, lottery tickets, gambling money, IOUs, or
other signs of betting/gambling from your spouse, children, or other important people
in your life?
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%
Male
Female
% of Population answered Yes
25%
4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Male Female
%ofPopulation
Gender
Hidden betting slips etc.

31
Results shown in figure 17 concluded that all females (100%) feel like they have no
problem with gambling. For males 9% feel they have a gambling problem and 4% (n=2)
feel like they used to have a problem with gambling, but not now.
Figure 17: Do you feel you have ever had a problem with betting or money gambling.
Findings highlighted in figure 18 show that no females reported ever losing time from
work or school due to gambling; following the above trends some males (13%) have
reported losing time from work or school due to betting money or gambling.
Figure 18: Have you ever lost time from work (or school) due to betting money or
gambling?
87%
9%
4%
Male
No
Yes
Yes, in the past, but not now
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Male
Female
Gender
Male Female
No 87% 100%
Yes 13% 0%

32
Figure 19 states that over one in four men (26%) have borrowed money to gamble or to
pay gambling debts, in contrast all females stated that they never previously borrowed
money to gamble or to pay gambling debts.
Figure 19: Have you ever borrowed money to gamble or pay off gambling debts?
Figure 20 shows the most popular places for males to borrow money to gamble or pay
gambling debts. Borrowing money from friends was the most common source.
Figure 20: Sources borrowed from to gamble?
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Yes No
Male
Female
35%
23%
17%
14%
13%
Male
Friends Savings Household money Spouse Bank Overdraft

34
Discussion
Overview
The primary purpose of this chapter is to discuss the main findings in the results chapter
in greater detail. As previously stated there is little knowledge/research available about
gambling behaviours in Ireland (IPH, 2010) so comparisons to studies from other
countries will be made. Also due to the lack of research some comparisons will be made
between athletes and college athletes. The aim of this study was to identify the
gambling habits of hurlers and camogie players. Firstly the gambling habits of hurling
and camogie players will be discussed followed by male vs female gambling habits and
finally the effects of gambling. The results were collected through questionnaires. The
findings were guided by the following research questions:
Gambling Habits of GAA Players
After analysing the findings, 73% of the total population stated that they gamble. This is
on par with results from the British Gambling Prevalence Survey (2010) showed that
73% of the adult population participated in some form of gambling in the previous 12
months. Although there is no difference it goes against previous research as a previous
study found that athletes are likely to gamble more than non-athletes maybe due to their
competitive spirit, also it found athletes’ bet on sport twice as much as non-athletes,
40%-20% (Weiss & Loubier, 2010). Having a competitive spirit may well be significant
in understanding why athletes may be more likely to gamble than non-athletes along
with the enticement of winning money. Athletes may be at risk to an amplified risk to
gamble because of their competitive nature but also due to the fact that being part of a
team where gambling might be a common activity discussed might also influence
whether or not you gamble. A separate study also conducted by Weiss & Loubier
(2008) looked at the gambling behaviours of current athletes, former athletes, and non-
athletes and found that current athletes (7%) were more likely to be classified as
probable pathological gamblers compared to non-athletes (3%).

35
The most popular gambling activity was betting on horses, dogs, or other animals (68%)
with betting on sports a close second (58%). When compared against the results of the
British Gambling Prevalence Survey (2010) there is quiet a difference with lotteries
(25%) and scratch cards (24%) being the most popular gambling activity off those aged
16 years and over. It is interesting that the preferred type gambling of the general British
population is perceived to be a game of luck or chance like lotteries and scratch cards,
whereas in this study the preferred type of gambling of hurlers and camogie players is
one that knowledge and insight is important to determining the outcome of an event.
When betting on a horse race you can check the horses form (how they performed in
previous races) and the decide whether you believe it should win, the same goes for
soccer or any other sport for that matter, there are variables which will help you decide
what you think the outcome will be (e.g. team missing key players through
injured/suspension). While doing the lottery or playing scratch cards, the outcome can’t
be predicted by what has previously happened, in other words the outcome is
determined by chance or luck. This suggest that sport participants may believe they may
be able to predict the future rather than relying on chance or luck with lotteries/scratch
cards. Another possible reason may be the horse racing culture in Ireland and world
class calendar of horse racing events. Also the fact that all the participants play sport
this may possibly make them more likely to bet on sports themselves as they may feel
like they have an advantage as they are knowledgeable about the sport.
The most common medium through which both hurlers and camogie players gambled
was in a bookmakers (47%) and online (24%). This was surprising given the availability
of online gambling, the increased use of smartphones, tablets and laptops etc. but also
given the amount of participants that stated they have an online bookmaker account.
This is potentially safer for society as there is less risk involved in betting in
bookmakers in comparison to online. Underage gambling is said to be a particular
concern as internet usage is highest among teenagers (Wood & Williams 2009). The
majority of study participants were not teenagers. This may explain why the
bookmakers are still the most common place to place a bet. Although online gambling
sites do have protective measures like daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits and
contact information for helplines it is extremely dangerous. Bookmakers have set
opening times but having an online account means you can place a bet at any time on
any market online. Woods and Williams (2009) stated that the 24 hour availability and
convenience of internet gambling gives it an advantage over other mediums through

36
which you can gamble. Also online gambling accounts are directly linked to your bank
account so you could withdraw large sums of money to gamble with online, in contrast
if you go to a bookmaker to gamble you might only have whatever amount of money is
in your pocket. What is concerning is that almost half of the study participants (43%)
have at least one online account with a bookmakers which indicates that even though
the bookmakers is the most popular location to gamble many people still have an online
account which they may later use. The fact that they have took the time to set up an
account and perhaps download an application onto their phone suggests that it will be
used. These gambling companies themselves promote the use of their online gambling
apps as much as possible through social media as anyone that follows Paddy Power on
twitter will understand as there are constant updates about online specials. Certain
specials can only be attained by placing the bet online, also for instance if you place a
bet on a horse race a live stream of that race is available to watch to see how your
selection does, this again makes online gambling more appealing. Also online betting
companies also offer bet in play markets so you can place numerous bets on a game that
is already started, again adding to the options exclusively available to online customers.
Technological improvement in the past few years like faster speed broadband, higher
quality smartphones and to a certain extent applications may be attributed to a rise in
online gambling.
Male versus Female Gambling
There were many differences discovered between males and females. It was easy to
distinguish that males have a higher association with gambling than females. Previous
studies have also illustrated these trends; the British Gambling Prevalence Survey
(2010) found that of the adult population over the age of 16, male prevalence rates were
slightly higher (75%) than females (71%). Many studies also conclude that males are at
a significantly increased risk of becoming problem gamblers than females (Gonnerman
& Lutz, 2011 & Winters, Bengston, Door & Stinchfield, 1998). Again results were
identical the British Gambling Prevalence Survey as problem gambling estimates of the
entire population was higher for males (1.3%) than it was for female (0.2%). Judging by
the results from this particular study it is easy to see why men seem to report more case
of problem gambling than women.
The first most recognisable difference between male and female gambling habits was
the largest amount of money gambled with on any one given day. Men spent

37
considerably more money than women on gambling as the most common amount for
males was more than €10 up to €100 closely followed by more than €100 up to €1000.
In contrast for females the most common largest amount of money gambled with on any
one day was more than €1 up to €10 with more than €10 up to €100 the second largest
amount. This indicates that females gamble with smaller amounts of money than males.
The larger amounts of money gambled by males may be associated with the higher
prevalence of male problem gamblers. There was also a significant difference between
males and females with an online account with a bookmaker. Males were almost three
times more likely to have an online account with a bookmaker than females. The British
Gambling Prevalence Survey in 2010 estimated that 14% of adults used the internet to
gamble. Similarly in this study it was estimated that males (17%) used the internet to
gamble more than females (12%). In our study quiet a high number of the study sample
had an online account (43%). This may be a sign of change as the British Gambling
Prevalence Survey was conducted five years ago and if they were to replicate that study
now the prevalence of online gambling will probably have increased as online gambling
is said to be the fastest growing form of gambling (National Centre for Responsible
Gaming, 2013).
Effects of Gambling
The Australian Productivity Commission found that on average between five and ten
people are effected by a problem gambler. These people may be friends, children,
spouses, family member’s, co-workers as well as others. Although the purpose of this
study was not to diagnose those with a gambling problem it is important to
achknowledge the effects excessive gambling may have on others. Almost one in five
(19%) males in this study felt like they would like to stop betting money on gambling
but didn’t think they could. This may have ripple effects where the closest people in
their lives are negatively effected. The reasons behind why they felt they couldn’t stop
is unknown but it most definietly be classed as problem gambling behaviour.
Another problem lies within online gambling, it is very easy to cover-up. This study
found that a considerable amount of males (25%) particularly had admitted to hiding
gambling related material like bet slips, lottery tickets, gambling money, IOUs, or other
signs of betting/gambling from your spouse, children, or anyone important in your life.
Online gambling can further aid the concealment of gambling. Technology has
impacted gambling as it has made it more accessible, affordable, convenient, increased

38
anonymity and somewhere for people to escape to (Griffiths, Parke, Wood & Parke,
2006). Although there is only slight evidence to suggest that online gambling may
become a problem, a close eye must be kept on prevalence rates and usage of these
accounts as they can be very harmful. In the British Columbia Gambling Prevalence
Survey (2008) found that internet gamblers had the strongest association with problem
gambling. This may be a possible explanation as to why the people who felt like
stopping gambling actually couldn’t.
The reasons as to why the participant’s felt the need to conceal gambling material is
unknown. It may be due to feeling guilty about what happens when they gamble as
again a considerable amount of males (25%) felt guilty about the way they gamble or
what happens when they gamble. There is quite possibly a link between felling guilty
about the way you gamble and hiding betting material. Those who feel guilty may
choose to hide betting material from others in fear of being criticized and
consequentially make you feel guilty. Concealment may be down to a number of
factors; gambling is seen by many as not sociably acceptable, maybe they notice
changes about themselves form the way they gamble as result of losing money. More
research is needed to tease out why some people experience feelings of guilt or feel the
need or hide evidence of betting from others.
Again a relatively high proportion of males (25%) in our study revealed that people
have criticised their betting habits or told them that they had a problem, regardless of
whether or not they taught it was true. This could possibly affect the relationship with
that person who is criticizing you as researchers have stated the negative impact
gambling may have on relationships with family, friends, partners and others
(Blaszczynski & Nower, 2002). Feelings of guiltiness, concealing gambling material
and being criticized about your gambling behaviour may be associated with gambling
more than you originally intended to. In our study a high proportion of males (49%)
expressed that they have gambled more than they intended to. One obvious consequence
of gambling more than intended is losing more money/time than you planned on
spending. It is unclear why men gamble with larger amounts of money, perhaps it is
because males bet on sports and horses more than women and these types of gambling
can attract higher wagers. There seems to be a trend in these results as the higher
amounts of money you gamble with the more guilt you will feel, the more criticism you
will receive and the more likely you are to hide betting related materials from others.

39
Results discovered that one in four (26%) males had borrowed money to gamble or to
pay off gambling related debt. Interestingly it emerged that none of the females studied
had ever borrowed money in order to gamble or to pay gambling debts. This is
concerning that males would go to such lengths to get money to gamble when the
majority of time the outcome of a bet is negative. The most common sources for males
to borrow from was friends (35%) and savings (23%). It is easy to see that a relationship
could be stretched if this type of behaviour is continued. If they needed to borrow
money in the first place then it is arguable they should not of spend this money on
gambling as if their selection loses they will then be even worse financially. This is
where problems can be prominent as they may gamble more to try getting the money
back that they owe their friend. Of the male population over half (58%) sometimes go
back another day to win back the money you have previously lost. This is when the
stakes get bigger as the more money you lose the more money you have to gamble with
in order to a get a return which covers your previous losses.

40
Limitations
With all research there are limitations and weaknesses. It is important to identify these
limitations or weaknesses in this particular study. By recognising and rectifying these
limitations it is hoped to aid future research into this area, therefore increasing the
validity of them.
Data Collection Methods
The first obvious limitation of the study is that all information gathered for this study
was done so by self-report questionnaire, so there is a definite risk of self-report bias
where the honesty of the participant is not known. Possible problems with this method
of data collection is that participants may exaggerate their answers or opinions for one
reason or another, or the opposite may happen that the participant may under-report or
give incorrect answers in order to protect themselves. Additionally, the fact that all
questionnaires were filled out with other team members may lead to them using so
called ‘normal’ answers depending on what those around them are reporting. To clarify
some may say they gambled €200 on a horse before, if someone else noticed that was
what one or a few people said they might select that answer as it is seen as normal.
Furthermore certain individuals when completing the questionnaires were seen to be
laughing and joking about it and jeering others about their possible gambling habits. It
important to note these limitations but it is next to impossible to determine whether or
not these limitations influenced the results.
The questionnaire itself may have been interpreted differently by each individual as
some questions may mean different things to different people; this may have affected
the results, although the researcher was present at all times to answer questions while
the participants are completing the questionnaires. Also there were time gaps between
when all the questionnaires were gathered. Some were retrieved in late February and the
remaining questionnaires were collected in the middle of March just after the
Cheltenham Festival which took place from March 10th-13th. This is probably the most
popular racing event of the year which may have impacted the results.

41
Sample Size
The relatively small sample size of just 100 participants must be recognized as not a
clear representation of all the hurlers and camogie players in Ireland. Also the
participants were selected using convenience sampling due to accessibility to the
researcher, this method of sampling leads to sampling bias as again these participants
are not a true representation of all the hurlers and camogie players in the country.
Additional Questions
In reflection there are certain questions which could have been added to the
questionnaire to provide more information. Questions like why do you gamble and why
do you play sport may have yielded interesting results. Some other interesting analysis
would have been why do people feel guilty about the way they gamble and why do they
feel the need to hide betting related material from other people in their lives. Again a
gender comparison of these results may have been intriguing. Perhaps a more in-depth
analysis of the online method of gambling might have made the findings noteworthy.

42
Conclusions
This research set out to investigate the gambling habits of hurling and camogie players
through distributing self-report questionnaires. This research indicates in general that it
is concurrent with other research that states males gamble more than females. One of
the more notable findings was that the prevalence of gambling on a game you are
involved was quite high amongst males. These findings enhance our knowledge about a
particularly untouched subject but it also provided additional questions that need to be
answered to fully understand the gambling habits of GAA players. More research is
most definitely need to broaden the information available about the gambling habits of
people in Ireland, as this study only focused on hurling and camogie players greater
attention should be dedicated to reviewing the general population. The findings from
this study suggest that gambling was not a serious concern but the substantial
dissimilarities between the gambling habits of males and females is a topic which ought
to be further examined.
Recommendations for Future Research
As previously stated in the limitations section a larger population size would be advised
for future studies to gain more valid assumptions can be made about this particular
population. As previously acknowledged there is a lack in Ireland about the prevalence
of gambling so a study not specifically focused on a particular population. The
quantitative nature of this study provided statistical information like percentages and
numbers, perhaps a study of qualitative nature using interviews of focus groups may
provide detailed information about the possible reasons behind why people gamble. The
time of which the data is collected may have influenced the results so in future research
all data should be collected as close to each other as possible to eliminate the influence
of some popular sporting events like the Cheltenham Racing festival, which may have
stemmed a spike in gambling activity. To eliminate any influence others may have had
on the results all questionnaires should be completed in complete privacy.

43
Recommendations for Practice
More data needs to be collected on the gambling habits of the Irish population; this
could be done by including gambling related criteria in common surveys like the Census
or Survey of Lifestyle Attitudes and Nutrition (SLAN) surveys as stated by the IPH
(2010). If data could be collected by these methods it would provide a baseline or
averages about basic gambling behaviours in Ireland. Comparisons could then be made
to other countries which could only be advantageous. As stated previously the results of
this study cannot be used to generalise the entire population of hurling and camogie
players but they can be used for the teams that participated in this study. Clubs and
county team should be particularly cautious of players betting on games they are
involved or games they make have inside information as the consequences of doing this
and getting caught can be severe. Clubs should educate the players and officials
associated about why this behaviour will not be tolerated or deemed morally correct at
the club. Provisions should be put in place at club and county level to support those who
may be experiencing problems with gambling. Adolescent gambling in taught to 2-3
times the rate of adults so common sense should prevail to educate adolescent about the
dangers of gambling.

44
References
American Psychiatric Association (1994). DSM IV: Diagnostic and statistical manual
of mental disorders. Pgs: 615. Fourth edition. Washington, D.C.
Australasian Gaming Council (2008). A Guide to Problem Gambling: Children and
Young People. Information for TAFE NSW and School Counsellors.
Baker, K., & Edwards, N. (2012). Psychology Research Process: Psychology of
Gambling: New Research. Nova Science Publishers.
Binde, P. (2013). Why people gamble: A model with five motivational dimensions .
International Gambling Studies, 81-97.
Blaszczynski, A., & Nower, L. (2002). A pathways model of problem and pathological
gambling. Addiction, 97(5), 487-499.
Cahill, J. (2014, January 25). Irish Examiner. Retrieved November 24, 2014, from
www.irishexaminer.com: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/gambling-bomb-has-
gone-off-256502.html
Centre, T. S. (2013). Gambling Prevalence in South Australia. Melbourne.
Crockford, D. N., & el-Guebaly, N. (1998). Psychiatric Comorbidity in Pathological
Gambling: A Critical Review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 43-50.
Curry, Timothy J; Robert, M Jiobu. (1995). Do Motives Matter? Modelling Gambling
on Sport Among Athletes. Sociology of Sport Journal, 21-35.
Delaney L, Wall P. Gambling in Ireland: Some Public Health Considerations. Summer.
Scientific Meeting of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine 2007.
Derevensky, J., & Gupta, R. (2006). Measuring gambling problems amongst
adolescents: Current status and future directions. International Gambling Studies, 6,
201-215.
Ellenbogen, S., Jacobs, D., Derevensky, J., Gupta, R., & Paskus, T. (2008). Gambling
Behavior Among College Student-Athletes. Journal Of Applied Sport Psychology, 349-
362.

45
Engwell, D., Hunter R, Steinberg M (2004). Gambling and other risk behaviours on
university campuses. Journal of American College Health. 52(6) Pgs: 245-255.
Gaelic Players Association . (n.d.). Gambling: A Guide for County Players and our
Games. Dublin, Leinster, Ireland. Retrieved from www.gaelicplayers.com.
Gamble Aware. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from www.gambleaware.ie:
http://www.gambleaware.ie/index.php/facts.html
Gonnerman, M. E., Jr. & Lutz. G. M. (2011). Gambling Attitudes and Behaviours: A
2011 Survey of Adult Iowans. Cedar Falls, IA: Centre for Social and Behavioural
Research, University of Northern Iowa.
Griffiths, M., Parke, A., Wood, R., & Parke, J. (2006). Internet Gambling: An Overview
of Psychosocial Impacts. UNLV Gaming Research & Review Jouma, 10(1). Retrieved
from https://www.citethisforme.com/cite/edit/56398829
Hodgins, D. C., Mansley, C., & Thygesen, K. (2006). Risk Factors for Suicide Ideation
and Attempts Among Pathological Gamblers. The American Journal of Addiction, 303-
310.
IPSOS REID PUBLIC AFFAIRS & GEMINI RESEARCH. (2008). British Columbia
ProblemGambling Prevalence Study.
Irish Public Health Initiative (2010). Developing a population approach to gambling:
Health Issues: Retrieved 10/11/2014. Available from:
http://www.publichealth.ie/files/file/Developing%20a%20population%20approach%20t
o%20gambling.pdf
Irish Sports Monitor (2013). Interim results from first six months of data collection.
Available at http://www.irishsportscouncil.ie/Research/The_Irish_Sports_Monitor/Irish-
Sports-Monitor-2013.pdf
Jacobs, D.R., Marston, A.R., Singer, R.D., Widaman, K., Little, T. & Veizades, J.
(1989). ‘Children of problem gamblers’. Journal of Gambling Behaviour, 5 (4), 261-
267.
Kim, S. W., Grant, J. E., Eckert, E. D., Faris, P. L., & Hartman, B. K. (2006).
Pathological gambling and mood disorders: Clinical associations and treatment
implications. Journal of effective disorders, 109-116.

46
Lesieur, H.R. (1987). Gambling, pathological gambling and crime. In: Galski T. The
handbook of pathological gambling (89-110). Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.
Lesieur, H. R., & Blume, S. B. (1987). The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): a
new instrument for the identification of pathological gamblers. American Journal of
Psychiatry, 1184-1188.
Lui, W., Lee, G., Goldweber , A., Petras, H., Storr, C., Ialongo, N., et al. (2012).
Impulsivity trajectories and gambling in adolescence among urban male youth.
Addiction, 780-788.
Lunn, P., Layte, R., & Watson, D. (2007). Irish Sports Monitor: First Annual Report.
The Economic and Social Institute.
MacLaren, V. V., Harrigan, K. A., & Dixon, M. (2012). Gambling motives and
symptoms of problem gambling in frequent slots players. Journal of Gambling
Issues(27).
Marshall, D. (2005). The gambling environment and gambler behaviour: Evidence from
Richmond-Tweed, Australia. International Gambling Studies 5(1), 63-83.
Moore, S. (2013, October 8). Sunday World. Retrieved November 24, 2014, from
www.sundayworld.com:http://www.sundayworld.com/top-stories/northern-
ireland/tyrone-star-caught-red-handed
National Centre for Responsible Gaming, (2013). Internet Gambling: An Emerging
Field of Research. Reilly., C, & Smith., N.
National Gambling Impact Study Commission. (1999). Final report. Washington, DC:
Government Printing Office. Available at
http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/index.html.
National Research Council (2009). Pathological Gambling. A Critical Review.
Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of Pathological Gambling.
Neal, P., Delfabbro, P., & O'Neill, M. (2005). Problem Gambling and Harm: Towards a
National Definition. Melbourne: Office of Gaming and Racing.

47
O'Riordan, I. (2014). Almost a quarter of GAA players believe betting a problem within
the association. The Irish Times. Retrieved from
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/almost-a-quarter-of-gaa-players-believe-
betting-a-problem-within-the-association- 1.1669916
Productivity Commission. (1999). Australia’s Gambling Industries, Report No. 10.
Canberra: AusInfo. Available at http://www.pc.gov.au/.
Productivity Commission (2009). Gambling, Draft Report, Canberra, October.
Quinlan, C. K., Goldstein, A. L., & Stewart, S. H. (2014). An investigation of the link
between gambling motives and social context of gambling in young adults.
International Gambling Studies, 115-131.
Reith, G. (2006). Research on the social inpacts of gambling. Glasgow: Crown.
Rickwood, D., Blaszczynski, A., Delfabbro, P., Dowling, N., & Heading, K. (2010,
November). The Psychology of Gambling. Prepared by the APS Gambling Working
Group. Available at https://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/APS-Gambling-Paper-
2010.pdf
Rockey, D. L., & King, C. (2006). Sports wagering. New Directions for Student
Services, 43-51.
Rodgers, B., Caldwell, T., & Butterworth, P. (2009). Measuring gambling participation.
Addiction, 1065-1069.
Shaffer, H. J., & Korn, D. A. (2002). Gambling and Related Mental Disorders: A Public
Health Analysis. Annu Rev Public Health, 171-212.
Shaffer, H. J., Hall, M. N., & Bilt, J. V. (1999, September). Estimating the Prevalence
of Disordered Gambling Behavior in the United States and Canada: A Research
Synthesis. American Journal of Public Health, 1369-1376.
Stewart, H. S., & Zach, M. (2008). Development and psychometric evaluation of a
three- dimensional Gambling Motives Questionnaire. Addiction, 1110-1117.
The Irish Bookmakers Association (Sep, 2010). Submission to the Minister for Finance
FromThe Irish Bookmakers Association on Budget 2011 and Betting Taxation.

48
Thorson, J. A., Powell, F. C., & Hilt, M. (1994). Epidemiology of Gambling and
Depression in an Adult Sample. Psychological Reports, 987-994.
Vasiliadis, S. (n.d.).(2011). Retrieved December 10, 2014, from www.academia.edu:
https://www.academia.edu/2106275/Motivation is the Message. The Gambling Motivations
Questionnaire GMQ and Young Adults
Wardle, H., Moody, A., Spence, S., Orford, J., Volberg, R., Jotangia, D., et al. (2010).
British Gambling Prevalence Survey. National Centre for Social Research.
Weiss, S. M., & Loubier, S. L. (2008). Gambling Behaviours of Former Athletes: The
Delayed Competitive Effect. Gaming Research & Review Journal.
Weiss, S. M., & Loubier, S. L. (2010). Gambling Habits of Athletes and Nonathletes
Classified as Disordered Gamblers. The Journal of Psychology, 507-521.
Winters, K., Bengston, P., Door, D., & Stinchfield, R. (1998). Prevalence and risk
factors of problem gambling among college students. Psychology Of Addictive
Behaviours, 12(2), 127-135.
Wood, R.T. & Williams, R.J. (2009). Internet Gambling: Prevalence, Patterns,
Problems, and Policy Options. Final Report prepared for the Ontario Problem Gambling
Research Centre, Guelph, Ontario, CANADA.
Yip, S. W., Desai, R. A., Steinberg, M. A., Rugle, L., Cavallo, D. A., Krishnan-Sarin,
S., et al. (2011). Health/Functioning Characteristics, Gambling Behaviors, and
Gambling-Related Motivations in Adolescents Stratiﬁed by Gambling Problem
Severity: Findings from a High School Survey. The American Journal on Addictions,
495-508.

49
Appendix A
Questionnaire
Jason Roche -Year 4-Bachelor ofBusiness (Hons) in Recreation and Sport Management.
Personaldetails:

50
Gender: _____________
Age: _____________
Do you play sport? Yes No
If yes, what sport do you play (Soccer,Rugby, Hurling/Camogie, Football, Other?)
________________________
What is the highest level you play at (Club, County?)
________________________
How often do you train on average? (2,3, 4, 5 times per week)
________________________
Do you bet on sports? ______Yes ______No
If yes?
Do you feel like gambling has affected you sporting performance?
______Not at all ______ Very little ______Often ______Almost
always
Have you ever placed a bet on a game you are playing in?
______Never ______Once/twice ______ Often (2-8 times) ______ Regularly (8+)
Do you think that your team has a gambling problem? ______ Yes ______ No
1. Please indicate which of the following types of gambling you have done in your
lifetime. For each type, mark one answer: “Not at All,” “Less than Once a Week,” or
“Once a Week or More.”
PLEASE “✓” ONE ANSWER FOR EACH
STATEMENT:
NOT AT
ALL
LESS THAN
ONCE A
WEEK
ONCE A
WEEK OR
MORE

51
a. Played cards for money
b. Bet on horses, dogs, or other animals
c. Bet on sport (GAA, Soccer, Golf, Boxing, Tennis,
etc.)
d. Played dice games, including craps, over and
under or other dice games
e. Went to casinos
f. Played the numbers or bet on (any) lotteries
g. Played bingo
h. Played the stock and/or commodities market
i. Played slot machines, poker machines, or other
gambling machines
j. Played a game of skill for money like pool, golf,
darts, etc.
k. Played pull tabs or scratch cards
l. Some form of gambling not listed above (please
specify: ________________________
2. What is the largest amount of money you have ever gambled with on any one-day?
______Never gambled
______€1 or less
______More than €1.00 up to €10.00
______More than €10.00 up to €100.00
______More than €100.00 up to €1’000.00
______More than €1’000.00 up to €10’000
______More than €10’000
3. Check which of the following people in your life has (or had) a gambling problem, if any.
______Father
______Mother
______Brother/Sister
______My Spouse/Partner
______My Child(ren)

52
______Another Relative
______A Friend or Someone Important in My Life
4. When you gamble, how often do you go back another day to win back money you have lost?
______ Never
______ Some of the Time (less than half the time I lose)
______ Most of the Time
______ Every Time I Lose
5. Have you ever claimed to be winning money gambling, but weren’t really? In fact,you lost?
______ Never
______ Yes,less than half the time I lost
______ Yes,most of the time
6. Do you feel you have ever had a problem with betting or money gambling?
______ No
______ Yes
______ Yes,in the past,but not now
7. Where would you gamble most often?
______Bookmakers
______ Casino
______Online
______ At the racetrack/event
______Otherplease specify
Yes No
8. Do you have an online account with a bookmaker?
If yes please specify which firm’(s)
9. Did you ever gamble more than you intended to?

53
10. Have people criticized your betting or told you that you
had a problem, regardless of whether or not you thought it
was true?
11. Have you ever felt guilty about the way you gamble, or
what happens when you gamble?
12. Have you ever felt like you would like to stop betting
money on gambling, but didn’t think you could?
13. Have you ever hidden betting slips, lottery tickets,
gambling money, IOUs,or other signs of betting or gambling
from your spouse, children or other important people in your
life?
14. Have you ever argued with people you live with over
how you handle money?
15. (If you answered “Yes” to question 14) Have money
arguments ever centered on your gambling?
16. Have you ever borrowed from someone and not paid
them back as a result of your gambling?
17. Have you ever lost time from work (or school) due to
betting money or gambling?
Yes No
18. If you borrowed money to gamble or to pay gambling
debts, who or where did you borrow from (check “Yes” or
“No” for each):
a. From household money
b. From your spouse
c. From other relatives or in-laws or friends
d. From banks, loan companies, or credit unions
e. From credit cards
f. From loan sharks
g. From savings
h. You sold personal or family property
i. You gone into a bank overdraft
j. You have (had) a credit line with a bookie

FINAL ONE!

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (19)

Similar to FINAL ONE!

Similar to FINAL ONE! (20)

FINAL ONE!