Gender and Age in Gambling Participation, Gambling Onset, and Problematic Gambling in a General Population Sample: Empirical Findings from Germany

Very few general population studies have analyzed the associations of age and gender with several aspects of gambling in Germany. Internationally, conflicting results have been found. Additionally, a decrease in age of onset of gambling was found in the USA but could not yet be demonstrated for Germany. We close these gaps, using data from the 2010/11 German Pathological Gambling and Epidemiology—dataset (n = 15,023; aged 14–64, 49.4% female, weighted data). Logistic regression models were used on nine specific gambling activities, three aggregated variables, the onset of gambling and gambling-related problems, and current gambling disorder symptoms. In both genders, gambling onset and gambling-related problems before age 18 and participation in structurally risky gambling were greater in those aged 14–17 and 18–24 compared to those aged 60–64. In women, adolescents gambled significantly more via internet, as did younger adults in men, compared to the oldest participants. Men were more likely to gamble and have gambling-related problems before 18 and to gamble on any activity except TV quizzes. The findings stress the need for specific prevention and intervention programs based on age and gender, but also gambling activity.