Gambling among Youth in Contemporary Ghana: Understanding, Initiation, and Perceived Benefits

Youth participation in gambling in Ghana has been surging, but little research has been done on the subject. This study examines factors leading to initiation into gambling and participants' understanding of and motivation for it. One-on-one interviews were conducted with twenty selected participants. Thematic analysis shows that factors that triggered their gambling include personal loss, the proximity of betting sites, unemployment, leisure, and curiosity. Participants variously perceived betting on sports as a game that involves chance, money, and electronic gadgets. The perceived benefits of gambling included money, socialization, positive emotion, expression of knowledge, and love of football. Implications are discussed in light of the need for educating youth on adaptive coping strategies and the need for policies and programs to provide better alternatives to youth unemployment.