| dc.description.abstract | This study analyzes problem gambling among the youth in Bwaise Parish, Kawempe Division in Kampala District. The study aimed to analyze problem gambling among the youth, examine the profiles of youth engaged in gambling, and underscore the forms of gambling as well as the causes of gambling and accruing benefits. Finally, the study intended to unravel the effects of gambling on the youth. The study covered 33 purposively selected youths involved in gambling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and through focus group discussions (FGDs).
Study results showed that most of the youth involved in gambling participate mostly in sports betting. Other forms of gambling that youths engage in include slot machines, casinos, scratch cards, Ludo, and online sports wagering. Findings show that most of the youth engaged in gambling are unemployed or have no formal employment. Beyond gambling, some youths are involved in boda boda transport industry. Benefits of gambling according to the youth include income generation through winning, socialization among peers, stress reduction through social interactions and sharing ideas. Despite the reported benefits that accrue from gambling, study findings revealed negative effects that gambling has on the youth. The effects include loss of in gambling like sports betting, problem of restlessness, loss of property to gambling, loss of responsibility at home, among others.
The study therefore recommends that, the community with support from the government should form and strongly enforce policies on gambling activities to minimize the involvement of young people/youth in this activity and through the National Gaming board Uganda, there is a need to regulate and minimize on the number of licenses they offer to different gambling companies because due to high number of gambling companies like sports betting in the area, this makes a lot of youth to engage in the gambling activities. | en_US |
