Gambling in the Context of Other Recreation Activity: A Quantitative Comparison of Casual and Pathological Student Gamblers

AbstractThe motivations for gambling of recreational and pathological student gamblers were described and compared with their motivations for other leisure activities. Students (n = 996) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas completed self-report questionnaires including the South Oaks Gambling Screen and the Recreation Experience Preference scales. Despite statistical differences, pathological gamblers and recreational gamblers shared seven of the top ten ranked motives for gambling.