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Gambling activity and stock price volatility: A cross-country analysis

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  • Blau, Benjamin M.
  • Whitby, Ryan J.

Abstract

Shiller (2000) contends that gambling activity might promote risk-taking by individuals in other areas, such as firm decision making or in financial markets. In this study, we test the hypothesis that favorable attitudes towards gambling impact country-level stock price volatility. Using American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) to control for differing market structures, we find that countries with more gaming institutions, higher gambling losses per adult, and legalized online gambling have less stable stock prices. These results are robust to different measures of volatility and controls for both firm-specific characteristics and macroeconomic conditions. These findings support the idea that a country’s culture toward gambling might generate greater levels of volatility in the country’s financial markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Blau, Benjamin M. & Whitby, Ryan J., 2020. "Gambling activity and stock price volatility: A cross-country analysis," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:beexfi:v:27:y:2020:i:c:s2214635019302965
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbef.2020.100338
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    Cited by:

    1. Baig, Ahmed S. & Blau, Benjamin M. & Butt, Hassan A. & Yasin, Awaid, 2023. "Reprint of: Do retail traders destabilize financial markets? An investigation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    2. Baig, Ahmed S. & Blau, Benjamin M. & Butt, Hassan A. & Yasin, Awaid, 2022. "Do retail traders destabilize financial markets? An investigation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Lina Mao & Chongluan Lu & Guangfan Sun & Chunyan Zhang & Changwei Guo, 2024. "Regional culture and corporate finance: a literature review," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gambling; Stock markets; Volatility; American Depositary Receipts; Behavioral finance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G40 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - General
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets

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