Sports Betting Among Students in Colleges of Education in the Ashanti Region, Ghana

Abstract

The study investigated sports betting among students of colleges of education in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The target population was students in colleges of education in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The simple random sampling procedure was employed to select 361 students for the study. Questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach’s coefficient alpha for the questionnaire was 0.73. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and Kruskal Wallis H test were used to analysed data. The results showed that students patronised IXBet, EaziBet, EuroBet, SoccerCash [NLA] and Safari. It was found that, to a great extent, students agreed that their involvement in sports betting was low. Students reported that they engaged in sport betting to win cash and for entertainment. Findings showed no statistically significant difference in students’ involvement in sports betting on the basis age. It was concluded that sport betting appeared more attractive to students since they offered free bonuses for placing bets. It was recommended that Guidance and Counselling Units on Colleges of Education campuses organise programmes to educate students on the types of sports betting available in the market and what they truly seek to offer clients. The Government and PRINCOF should develop socially responsible regulations and statutes on sports betting that have the potential of discouraging students’ involvement in the practice. Colleges of Education should do screening of addictive bettors and refer them for guidance and counselling.