Preferred Gambling Modality and Hazardous Drinking Among Adults Screening Positive for Gambling Disorder: A Conceptual Replication from Türkiye

Mixed-mode gamblers, who gamble online and in physical venues, reportedly consume more alcohol while gambling than online-only gamblers in Australia, where many venues serve alcohol. This conceptual replication tested whether this pattern holds in Türkiye, where alcohol consumption is low, casinos are closed, and licensed betting shops do not serve alcohol. Cross-sectional data from 435 adults screening positive on the Turkish Gambling Disorder Screening Test (90.6% male) were analyzed. Hazardous drinking (Addiction Profile Index Risk Screening Scale, alcohol subscale) was compared across preferred gambling modality, tobacco use, and psychiatric diagnosis, adjusting for gambling disorder severity and sociodemographic characteristics. After adjustment, hazardous drinking differed by modality (F(2, 418) = 16.94, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.075). The mixed-mode group scored higher than the online group (adjusted difference = 1.84, 95% CI [1.21, 2.46]), and this difference remained among men and participants with past-year symptoms. Mixed-mode and land-based groups did not differ in the main model. Current tobacco users and participants without a psychiatric diagnosis also scored higher. The original finding was replicated in the direction where licensed venues do not sell alcohol. As 52.9% scored in the risk range, services could screen all clients for alcohol use, using modality and tobacco status as context.