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01-12-2015 | Original Paper

Superstitious Beliefs and Problem Gambling Among Thai Lottery Gamblers: The Mediation Effects of Number Search and Gambling Intensity

Authors: Sunisa Pravichai, Vanchai Ariyabuddhiphongs

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 4/2015

Abstract

Thai lottery gamblers won prizes after betting on numbers they obtained from newspaper stories. We hypothesized that Thai lottery gamblers’ superstitious beliefs were related to their problem gambling through the mediation of number search and gambling intensity. In a study among 380 Thai lottery gamblers, superstitious beliefs were operationally defined as the beliefs in events or objects that seemed to reveal numbers, number search as an attempt to identify numbers to bet, gambling intensity as the frequency and amounts of lottery gambling, and problem gambling as the symptoms of problems relating to lottery gambling. Results support the hypotheses. There is a statistically significant indirect relationship between Thai lottery gamblers’ superstitious beliefs and their problem gambling through the mediation of number search and gambling intensity. Thai lottery gamblers need to be reminded that their superstitious beliefs and number search are precursors of their problem gambling.

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Title: Superstitious Beliefs and Problem Gambling Among Thai Lottery Gamblers: The Mediation Effects of Number Search and Gambling Intensity
Authors: Sunisa Pravichai
Vanchai Ariyabuddhiphongs
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 4/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-014-9517-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Superstitious Beliefs and Problem Gambling Among Thai Lottery Gamblers: The Mediation Effects of Number Search and Gambling Intensity

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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