NatCen Social Research revealed some very interesting information about professional sportsmen and their gambling habits. The research was done on behalf of the Professional Players Federation and according to the findings sportsmen chances of becoming problem gamblers are three times bigger than those of the rest of the population.
NSR received questionnaires by 178 professional cricket players and 170 footballers. The answers helped them classify 6.1% of the sportsmen as problem gamblers in times when this figure is only 1.9% when it comes to the wider public. The study suggests that 192 cricketers and football players may have problems with gambling, whereas 440 were categorised as vulnerable at a level that could compromise or damage their families as well as their personal and recreational pursuits.
This research was conducted after the PPF, an alliance representing cricketers, footballers, jockeys, golfers, snooker and rugby players, claimed that professional sportsmen were at risk of having serious gambling problems. As it turns out, PPF wasn’t far away from the truth.
Even though only 3% admitted seeking professional help for gambling, there are a number of popular sportsmen who opened up to the public on this topic. Matthew Etherington, a Stoke City player, said that he had lost around £1.5 million on placing bets on horses, greyhounds and poker. Michael Chopra, a former striker in Newcastle United and Cardiff City, is another footballer who confessed having a gambling problem.
Almost 31% of those who took part in the research answered that gambling companies were encouraging sportsmen to bet with things such as hospitality and introductory offers. According to 27% of the professional players, sponsorships given by gambling companies are an important factor which impacts the levels on this problem.