Gambling becomes a source of difficulties of varying severity for some individuals whereas it is a positive experience for most of other people. Although gambling continues to be an entertaining activity for the majority of gambling individuals, prevalence rates suggest that pathological gambling is not low compared to other types of diagnosis. Most of the data with respect to gambling is from Western gambling literature, whereas research investigating the associated features of problem and pathological gamblers are very limited in the Turkish sample. The present study aimed to adapt two gambling-related instruments into Turkish and subsequently to examine the contributory roles of gambling participation, personality, affect, cognition, and motives of Turkish gamblers on gambling severity and gambling-related harm. The present study sample consisted of 357 males who were gambling in the sports and horse-races betting terminals. The findings pointed out it is important to conduct gambling research with Turkish samples considering the gambling severity and harm scores of the participants. The Turkish versions of Gambling-Related Cognitions Scale and Gambling Motives Scale showed promising psychometric properties with respect to their reliability and validity analyses. Besides, relatively higher negative affect, neuroticism, gambling-related cognitions, avoidance motive, and gambling participation were found to be associates of probable pathological gambling among Turkish regular gambling individuals. Moreover, the relationships of gambling cognitions / motives and gambling severity were mediated by the gambling participation. The main findings and related findings of the present study together with their implications are reported and discussed within the relevant gambling literature.

Aim: This study examined associations between leisure-time activities and gambling participation respectively problem gambling among adolescents in Sweden. Furthermore, the study examined sex differences and the degree of possibly confounding factors. Methods: The data was obtained from European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, 2019 (n=1,911). Chi2-tests and logistic/multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. Results: Unstructured leisure-time activity was robustly positively associated with gambling participation, structured leisure-time activity was weakly negatively associated with gambling participation among students. Unstructured leisure-time activity was moderately positively associated with problem gambling, structured leisure-time activity was weakly negatively associated with problem gambling among students. Unstructured leisure-time activity was strongly positively associated with gambling participation, structured leisure-time activity was strongly negatively associated with gambling participation for boys. Unstructured leisure-time activity was weakly positively associated with gambling participation for girls. Parental monitoring, school adjustments and externalizing behaviour problems affected the association between unstructured leisure-time activity for students respectively boys. Conclusion: Associations were found of varying extent between leisure-time activities and gambling participation respectively problem gambling. More and stronger associations were found for boys than girls and possibly confounding factors affected the association between unstructured leisure-time activity and problem gambling to some degree.