Impact of Socioeconomic and Demographic Variables on Student Engagement in Gambling Activities: Insights from Mkuranga District, Tanzania

This study investigated the socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing students' gambling participation. The research design was a cross-sectional survey to collect primary and secondary data. The study used quantitative and qualitative approaches and involved eighty-seven (87) participants, including gamblers and non-gamblers from Tambani Secondary School. The logistic regression model was used as a technique for data analysis. The results indicate that 37 (42.5%) of the gambling students preferred slot gambling over other forms. The quantitative analysis revealed that four out of six socioeconomic and demographic factors were significantly associated with the probability of students participating in gambling activities. School students' gambling participation is influenced by several factors, including the number of gambling facilities, distance from home to school, monthly income, and parents' or carers' carelessness about the school. The significance of these factors was checked based on a coefficient of P-value of less than 5% (p<0.05). The study concludes that the number of gambling facilities, parents' carelessness, class of the study, gender, place of residence, monthly income, and distance from home to school all influence students' gambling participation. The study suggests that the Ward Executive Officer (WEO) should encourage community members to construct school hostels and ensure strict enforcement of laws and policies for bet owners. Additionally, Community Development Officers (CDOs) could implement educational programmes to inform the community about the impact of gambling on secondary school students who have completed primary education.