Adolescent lottery and scratchcard players: do their attitudes influence their gambling behaviour?

This paper examines the link between attitudes and behaviour in relation to adolescent participation on the National Lottery and scratchcards by applying the theory of planned behaviour. A questionnaire constructed by the authors was administered to a sample of 1195 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 15 years (550 male, 641 female, 4 unspecified). In this paper, all data relating to factors associated with adolescent attitudes toward the National Lottery and scratchcards, and the links with any subsequent gambling behaviour, were analysed. Results revealed that young people's attitudes are an accurate predictor of their gambling behaviour on these activities, and that social cognitive theory provides an explanation of how these attitudes may develop. In light of these findings, a number of suggestions are given on how to discourage young people from gambling.