Effects of Lottery Games on Students’ University Education in Arusha Region, Tanzania

Flavian Galusy & Kennedy Omondi Otieno
St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Arusha.
Email: flaviangalusy@yahoo.com/ omondiken2016@gmail.com

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of lottery games on students’ university education in Arusha region. Objectives were to: examine the extent to which lottery games affect university students’ education and find out possible measures to minimize the effects of lottery games on University Students’ education. Entertainment Utility Theory and convergent mixed method design guided the study. The target population included 5 deans of students and 1002 students from 5 universities in Arusha region. The sample size of 205 comprised of 200 students and 5 deans of students. Questionnaires and interview guide were used to collect data. Simple random sampling was employed to sample students while the deans of students were selected purposively. Validity was established through expert review while reliability was determined using Cronbach’s Alpha and the coefficient value was r=0.67. While the trustworthiness of instrument for collecting qualitative data was done through peer debriefing. The data from quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 23 and presented in tables. Qualitative data was presented in themes alongside research questions. The results show that participating in lottery games such as aviator, sports betting and casino games negatively affects students’ university education. In conclusion, students who are addicted to lottery games participation are likely to be distracted from their educational goals. The study recommends that self-awareness, provision of education on effects of lottery games, regulations and limits of purchasing lottery tickets by the gaming boards is useful to reduce the risks associated with lottery games.