Influence of Financial Literacy Training on Emotional Wellbeing among Police Officers Struggling with Sports Betting Addiction in Kenya: A Case Study of Thika Town Constituency, Kenya

Sports’ betting has emerged as one of the fastest growing forms of gambling globally, with mobile platforms intensifying accessibility and harm. Gambling addiction is a growing public health issue, with associations to financial hardship, depression, and impaired occupational functioning. In Kenya, mobile sports betting penetration is among the highest in Africa, and police officers are not exempted from this menace. Unchecked, sports betting addiction within law enforcement not only threatens the emotional wellbeing of officers, through anxiety, depression, and burnout, but also undermines institutional integrity, productivity, and public trust. Research indicates that financial literacy training improves budgeting, debt management, and self-control, which in turn reduces susceptibility to gambling-related harms. The study aimed at establishing the influence of financial literacy training on the emotional wellbeing of police officers struggling with sports betting addiction in Kenya. This study is anchored on two key theories: Planned Behavior Theory and was Conservation of Resources Theory. This study adopted a descriptive case study design. The target population was 70 police officers in Thika Town constituency who are struggling with sports betting addiction, and have undergone financial literacy training as part of police welfare programs in Kenya. A purposive sampling technique was applied and data was collected with structured questionnaires and analyzed followed. The study results established that financial literacy training significantly and positively (β = 2.182, p = 0.000) influences emotional wellbeing of police officers struggling with sports betting addiction in Thika Town Constituency, Kenya. These study findings suggest that financial literacy training produces both practical and psychological benefits for police officers affected by sports betting. Practical financial literacy training such as budgeting, savings, debt management and investment awareness reduces immediate financial stressors, which in turn emotional wellbeing among police officers struggling with sports betting addiction in Kenya. The study concludes that financial literacy training significantly and positively influences emotional wellbeing of police officers struggling with sports betting addiction in Thika Town Constituency, Kenya. The study recommends revising workplace policies and financial literacy training should also be conduct regularly to all police officers so enhance their overall wellbeing. The study also recommends the integrating of financial literacy training programmes with counseling, addiction specific therapy, and peer support, so as to enhance the overall wellbeing of police officers struggling with sports betting addiction in Kenya. Key words: Stress, Financial Literacy Training, Emotional Wellbeing, Sports Betting, Addiction, Police Officers