Gender Differences in On-Site and Online Gambling Among Finnish Adolescents: Associations with School-, Family-, and Peer-Related Factors and Other Risk Behaviors.

Adolescent gambling is a growing public health concern as opportunities expand across both physical and digital environments. This study examined gender differences in on-site and online gambling among Finnish adolescents and assessed associations with school engagement, family context, peer activities, and co-occurring risk behaviors. Data were obtained from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), collected from Finnish adolescents aged 15-16 in 2024 (boys: n = 1706; girls: n = 1588). Associations with past-12-month gambling were analyzed using Rao-Scott's chi-square tests, F tests, and multinomial logistic regression, examining gender interactions. Gambling was more common among boys than girls: 7% of boys had gambled on-site only, 3% online only, and 11% both during the past 12 months. Among girls, the corresponding proportions were 0-2%. Skipping school, spending leisure time with friends, risky sexual behavior, and problematic substance use were associated with increased odds of both gambling types, whereas parental control was associated with decreased odds. Problematic social media increased the odds of on-site gambling, while problematic gaming decreased the odds. Several associations with online gambling differed by gender. These findings support multi-level prevention targeting family, school, peer, and behavioral risk factors.