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Professional footballers and cricketers are three times more likely to have gambling problems than other young men, according to research. A study conducted for the Professional Players’ Federation shows 6,1 percent of sportsmen would be classed as problem gamblers compared with 1.9 percent in the general population of young men.
PPF chairman Brendon Batson says the findings are “worrying” for sport.
“Sportsmen are a clear ‘at risk’ group and sport has a duty of care,” he said.
“We all need to work together to expand and improve the good practice that exists on education and treatment for problem gambling.”
The research was based on confidential questionnaires from 170 professional footballers and 176 professional cricketers.
Heather Wardle, research director at NatCen Social Research which carried out the study, added: “It is interesting to question why this might be. Is it due to a betting culture? Is it something about athletes’ personalities or perhaps a combination of these two?” — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter