The Effect of Financial Literacy Levels on Gambling Behaviour

This study examines how financial literacy relates to gambling behaviour in a Turkish adult sample. Using a cross sectional, face to face survey (N = 182), we assessed gambling severity (SOGS) and a multidimensional financial literacy scale (FL). Spearman analyses indicated a small, borderline inverse association between FL Total and SOGS (ρ = −0.140, p = .059), while the Fundamentals of Finance (FF) subscale showed a significant negative correlation (ρ = −0.188, p = .011). Education and income were associated with differences in outcomes: lower education and lower income groups tended to report higher SOGS and lower FL. Gender and age did not differ on SOGS or FL Total; contrasts appeared only for the Cryptocurrencies/Digital Assets (CDA) subscale (men and younger adults scored higher). In the sample, 40.1% had ever gambled and 2.7% met the pathological threshold. Overall, the correlational pattern points to a modest inverse co variation between core financial skills and gambling severity in this dataset; causal inferences are not warranted. Limitations include cross sectional design and self report measures.