By: |
Matthew Olckers (SoDa Laboratories, Monash University);
Joshua E. Blumenstock (SoDa Laboratories, Monash University) |
Abstract: |
Mobile phone-based gambling has grown wildly popular in Africa. Commentators
worry that low ability gamblers will not learn from experience, and may rely
on debt to gamble. Using data on financial transactions for over 50 000 Kenyan
smartphone users, we find that gamblers do learn from experience. Gamblers are
less likely to bet following poor results and more likely to bet following
good results. The reaction to positive and negative feedback is of equal
magnitude, and is consistent with a model of Bayesian updating. Using an
instrumental variables strategy, we find no evidence that increased gambling
leads to increased debt. |
Keywords: |
gambling, sports betting, mobile money, Bayesian updating |
JEL: |
D83 L83 O16 |
Date: |
2020–11 |
URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ajr:sodwps:2020-07&r=all |