Abstract

The paper aims to examine gambling behaviors among teenagers in Italy by focusing on the characteristics of young players and on the several factors that may influence their attitude towards game of chances. The analysis is made using interviews on a sample of 8.500 Italian high school students aged between 16 and 19 years old, using as a proxy their average monthly gambling expenses. The collected data are managed exercising two different methods, the CHAID and the multiple regression analyses. The results show that, on average, young people have a propensity to gambling higher than total population, especially if they are male rather than female; they have an higher attitude to play hazardous games when the socio-family scenario presents specific unsafe circumstances such as alcohol and drug addiction, low education level or scarce reading habits, gambling behavior and low family income level.