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

Mangat, Harshdeep S. and Király, Orsolya and Urbán, Róbert and Yu, Shu M. and Griffiths, Mark D. and Paksi, Borbála and Felvinczi, Katalin and Demetrovics, Zsolt and Czakó, Andrea (2026) Esports bettors versus traditional sports bettors: Differences in demographics, impulsivity, psychopathological symptoms, and gaming and gambling behavior. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRY, 146. No. 152667. ISSN 0010-440X (print); 1532-8384 (online)

Preview

Text Mangat_etal_2026_Esports_bettors_vs_sports_bettors.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (669kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background and aims: Esports betting (i.e., betting on the outcome of professional competitive videogaming matches) has become a regular feature of most online gambling websites in recent years. The present study compared differences between esports bettors and traditional sports bettors, in addition to exploring factors that predict participation in esports betting. Methods: Data regarding demographics, impulsivity, psychopathological symptoms, gaming, and gambling among 359 esports bettors (mean age = 37.98 years [SD = 13.64]; 86.9% male) and 326 sports bettors (mean age = 43.79 years [SD = 13.75]; 91.7% male) from the United Kingdom, Hungary, and Canada were collected through surveys via two gambling service providers (Betway and Midnite) and a gaming magazine. Results: Compared to sports bettors, esports bettors were significantly younger, scored higher on gambling risk severity, and had more gaming disorder symptoms. Esports bettors were also more likely than sports bettors to report higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms, and impulsivity, as well as be driven by coping, social, and financial motives to engage in betting. In an unadjusted binary regression model, being younger, being driven by coping, social, and financial motives, and reporting elevated levels of impulsivity, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were predictors of esports betting. Higher rates of problem gambling severity and gaming disorder symptoms were also predictors of esports betting. Conclusions: The findings suggest that esports bettors are a distinct betting group, and vulnerable to multiple gaming/gambling-related harms and psychopathological harms.

Actions (login required)

View Item