Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana

Ghana, like many other African countries, has seen a rapid expansion in gambling industry activity in the last decade with sports betting becoming a popular pastime among young Ghanaian males. The proliferation of land based, and online gambling operations presents a significant public health threat...

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Main Authors: Badu, Emmanuel, Hallett, Jonathan, Vujcich, Daniel, Crawford, Gemma, Bellringer, M.E.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96523
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author Badu, Emmanuel
Hallett, Jonathan
Vujcich, Daniel
Crawford, Gemma
Bellringer, M.E.
author_facet Badu, Emmanuel
Hallett, Jonathan
Vujcich, Daniel
Crawford, Gemma
Bellringer, M.E.
author_sort Badu, Emmanuel
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Ghana, like many other African countries, has seen a rapid expansion in gambling industry activity in the last decade with sports betting becoming a popular pastime among young Ghanaian males. The proliferation of land based, and online gambling operations presents a significant public health threat to the citizenry. Yet little is known about gambling participation and harms, the size of the gambling market and the role of the gambling industry in influencing and perpetuating gambling behaviour in Ghana. The aim of this study was to contribute to understanding the extent of gambling research in Ghana by mapping out what the current literature indicates. Six databases were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles that focused on gambling in Ghana. The findings from this review demonstrate gambling research in Ghana is in a nascent state with a predominant focus on individual factors and limited consideration of public health. The implications for future research are highlighted, including the requirement for a nationally representative study to understand the prevalence of gambling participation and harm, and the role of the gambling industry. Public health action grounded in sound evidence is urgently required to address the individual and community level problems associated with this harmful commodity.
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publishDate 2023
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-965232025-01-17T01:14:33Z Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana Badu, Emmanuel Hallett, Jonathan Vujcich, Daniel Crawford, Gemma Bellringer, M.E. determinants of health gambling public health sports betting sub-Saharan Africa Male Humans Gambling Ghana Sports Public Health Industry Humans Gambling Public Health Sports Industry Ghana Male Ghana, like many other African countries, has seen a rapid expansion in gambling industry activity in the last decade with sports betting becoming a popular pastime among young Ghanaian males. The proliferation of land based, and online gambling operations presents a significant public health threat to the citizenry. Yet little is known about gambling participation and harms, the size of the gambling market and the role of the gambling industry in influencing and perpetuating gambling behaviour in Ghana. The aim of this study was to contribute to understanding the extent of gambling research in Ghana by mapping out what the current literature indicates. Six databases were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles that focused on gambling in Ghana. The findings from this review demonstrate gambling research in Ghana is in a nascent state with a predominant focus on individual factors and limited consideration of public health. The implications for future research are highlighted, including the requirement for a nationally representative study to understand the prevalence of gambling participation and harm, and the role of the gambling industry. Public health action grounded in sound evidence is urgently required to address the individual and community level problems associated with this harmful commodity. 2023 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96523 10.1093/heapro/daad171 eng restricted
spellingShingle determinants of health
gambling
public health
sports betting
sub-Saharan Africa
Male
Humans
Gambling
Ghana
Sports
Public Health
Industry
Humans
Gambling
Public Health
Sports
Industry
Ghana
Male
Badu, Emmanuel
Hallett, Jonathan
Vujcich, Daniel
Crawford, Gemma
Bellringer, M.E.
Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana
title Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana
title_full Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana
title_fullStr Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana
title_short Setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in Ghana
title_sort setting the scene: a scoping review of gambling research in ghana
topic determinants of health
gambling
public health
sports betting
sub-Saharan Africa
Male
Humans
Gambling
Ghana
Sports
Public Health
Industry
Humans
Gambling
Public Health
Sports
Industry
Ghana
Male
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/96523