Risk Attitude, Socio-Demographic Factors, and Betting and Gambling Behavior among Employed Youths in the Banking Sector in Kenya
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Date
2025-10
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Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Book Publishing
Abstract
Betting and Gambling have increasingly become prevalent among employed youths in Kenya,
particularly within the banking sector, raising concerns about financial stability and responsible
behavior among professionals. Despite gambling often perceived as a leisure activity, emerging
patterns show that some individuals resort to taking personal loans, liquidating assets, or selling
property to sustain gambling habits, resulting in financial distress. Youth aged between 18–35
years make up approximately 35% of the population and form a significant proportion of the
workforce, particularly in urban sectors such as banking and finance. This study investigated the
influence of risk attitude and socio-demographic factors specifically gender, educational level, and
economic status on gambling behavior among employed youths in Kenya’s banking sector.
Grounded in Prospect Theory and Expected Utility Theory, the study examined how individual
risk preferences and socio-demographic attributes shape gambling decisions among financially
literate populations. An exploratory research design was adopted, targeting bank employees aged
18–35 years. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed utilizing
both descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis. The results indicated that
risk attitude had a statistically significant effect on gambling behavior, leading to the rejection of
the first hypothesis. Educational level also significantly influenced gambling behavior, resulting
in the rejection of the second hypothesis. Gender, however, was statistically insignificant, and the
third hypothesis was not rejected. Economic status was found to have a significant effect on
gambling behavior, leading to the rejection of the fourth hypothesis. The study concludes that risk
attitudes, educational level, and economic status serve a critical role in shaping gambling behavior
among employed youths in the banking sector, while gender does not significantly influence such
behavior. In view of the findings, the study recommends that young professionals should
understand and manage their risk attitudes to strengthen risk management strategies, leverage
educational opportunities for informed decision-making, and address economic pressures that
influence gambling tendencies
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Research Article
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Citation
Momanyi, E. & Njoka, C. (2025), Risk Attitude, Socio-Demographic Factors, and Betting and Gambling Behavior among Employed Youths in the Banking Sector in Kenya, Journal of Finance and Accounting, 9(5) pp.59-71. https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t4364