The Community Development Process and Mechanism of Digital Literacy with Online Gambling Prevention Affecting Youths’ Education and Muslim Community Economy in Southernmost Provinces of Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to: 1) examine the prevalence and “behavioral traps” associated with online gambling addiction among Muslim youth in the community. 2) investigate the development of awareness mechanisms and prevention of online gambling through community-based processes in the southern border provinces; and 3) formulate policy recommendations for scaling up to communities with similar contexts. The study was conducted in the Sorong community, Khao Tum Subdistrict, Yarang District, Pattani Province. Data were collected through interviews with 65 participants and questionnaires administered to 345 respondents.The findings revealed that the prevalence of youth who had engaged in online gambling was 38.3% (± 5.2), while those who had never engaged accounted for 61.7% (± 5.2). Among those who had participated in online gambling, 20.0% (± 5.3) reported feelings of enjoyment, indicating that gambling provides excitement and satisfaction for some individuals. However, this may also signal a potential risk for future financial problems if not properly controlled. Although 60.3% (± 9.7) of those who had gambled reported that they could control their behavior, 39.7% indicated an inability to do so, reflecting tendencies toward addictive behavior and difficulty in cessation. All variables showed p-values of less than 0.05, indicating statistical significance. The differences between those who had and had not engaged in online gambling were therefore not due to chance but reflected statistically significant relationships between gambling behavior and various outcomes. Significant factors influencing gambling behavior included gender (p < 0.01), with males more likely to engage in gambling than females; marital status (p < 0.01), with married individuals less likely to gamble than single individuals; awareness of gambling information (p < 0.001), where higher levels of awareness were associated with increased likelihood of gambling; and types of gambling (p < 0.05), indicating that different forms of gambling influence behavior. Age (p > 0.05), however, was not a statistically significant factor. Therefore, interventions should focus on providing education and preventive campaigns targeting at-risk groups, particularly those with higher exposure to gambling-related information and those engaging in various forms of gambling. Community-based mechanisms for awareness and prevention should be strengthened through the collaboration of family, school, and community institutions.