Aspects Of Gambling Research Articles

Gambling Control and Public Health: Let’s Be Honest

This comment corrects erroneous and misleading statements about gambling control and public health. In addition, it avoids tilting at windmills. This comment focuses on four primary issues: (1) the politics of public health initiatives, (2) gambling as a determinant of adverse health, (3) the nature and prevalence of gambling addiction, and (4) the moral aspects of gambling. These issues and gambling-related problems in general often influence the practice of medicine, public health policy, and a range of scientific research activities. During this discussion, we provide an evidence-based consideration of gambling and public health. This discussion counters the political and personal views that are influencing public health policy development.

The Prevalence of E-Gambling and of Problem E-Gambling in Poland.

This study estimated the levels of involvement in e-gambling and problem e-gambling in Poland and identified selected sociodemographic variables associated with e-gambling activities. The study was conducted using a representative sample of the adult inhabitants of Poland (n = 2000). The survey contained questions measuring three aspects of gambling (involvement in e-gambling, types of e-gambling activity, and problematic e-gambling). Results suggested that 4.1% of respondents were involved in e-gambling and 26.8% of them could be classified as problem gamblers. The most popular e-gambling games were lotteries and sports betting. Gender, age, size of city of residence, level of education, and income were identified as significant predictors of involvement in e-gambling. The results indicated that men, younger people, and people who earnt less were more often involved in e-gambling. Having children, playing online scratch cards, and online sport betting—but not online lotteries—turned out to be typical for problem online gamblers. The prevalence of problem gambling among Polish e-gamblers suggests that extended research in this area is needed.

Anziani e gioco d'azzardo: una ricerca su consapevolezza, abitudini e rischi tra gli over 65 anni con il Senior Problem Gambling Questionnaire (SPGQ)

Lo studio del gioco d'azzardo all'interno degli anziani ha mostrato un fenomeno estremamente complesso  associato a determinanti bio-psico-sociali. Ad oggi, non esistono studi che hanno esplorato le abitudini del gioco d'azzardo all'interno di una popolazione italiana over 65. Con tale obiettivo, un autore del presente lavoro ha costruito uno strumento auto-somministrato di 9 item denominato "Senior Problem Gambling Questionnaire" (SPGQ). SPGQ indaga due aspetti del gioco d'azzardo: a) il livello di consapevolezza dei rischi associati alla condotta; b) la severità dei comportamenti associati al gioco d'azzardo. SPGQ è stato somministrato a un campione di 387 soggetti (353 hanno completato la valutazione). Il genere sessuale era equamente distribuito. L'85.6% del campione ha mostrato dei buoni livelli consapevolezza dei rischi associati al gioco d'azzardo. Il 22.2% dei soggetti ha dichiarato di intraprendere dei comportamenti legati al gioco d'azzardo almeno 1 volta alla settimana. Il 4.4% del campione ha risposto affermativamente ad entrambi gli item legati agli aspetti patologici della condotta. Seppur gli uomini intraprendono con una maggiore frequenza comportamenti legati al gioco d'azzardo, il genere è risultato equamente distribuito tra i soggetti che dichiarano di giocare almeno 2 volte alla settimana. Infine, è stata mostrata una modesta, seppur epidemiologicamente rilevante, porzione di Italiani over 65 che potrebbe manifestare un quadro di gioco d'azzardo patologico.

The role of self-efficacy in predicting perinatal women's ability to reduce smoking

The role of self-efficacy in predicting perinatal women's ability to reduce smoking

Seasonal patterns in slot-machine gambling in Germany

Although several aspects of gambling have been thoroughly investigated, little is known about the effect of seasonality on gambling. This study investigated the seasonal patterns in slot-machine usage, based on a unique data set of slot-machine usage from a German gambling centre using time series analysis. Knowledge of seasonal slot-machine usage patterns provides useful insights for researchers, gambling centre managers and legal authorities. Slot-machine gambling activity appears to be highest in November, when poor weather is compounded with lack of entertainment activities and lowest in December, when ample entertainment possibilities may distract people from gambling. The estimated daily and weekly seasonal patterns support the self-control literature, which suggests that self-regulatory failures are more likely when people are more tired; after work, or late in the evening. The high variation in gambling during winter implies that the availability of alternative entertainment activities may have an important influence on slot-machine usage.

Problem Gambling in Europe: Challenges, Prevention, and Interventions

This new publication is an extremely useful work, and the editors and publishers are to be congratulated for providing such a comprehensive and informative reference piece on not only problem gambling issues in Europe, but on other aspects of gambling as well (e.g., earnings and participation rates).

The Use of Online Methodologies in Data Collection for Gambling and Gaming Addictions

The paper outlines the advantages, disadvantages, and other implications of using the Internet to collect data from gaming addicts. Drawing from experience of numerous addiction studies carried out online by the author, and by reviewing the methodological literature examining online data collection among both gambling addicts and video game addicts, the main issues concerning data collected using the Internet are discussed and reviewed. This paper extends upon previous methodological papers in the area by outlining some of the methodological and ethical issues associated with specific (rather then generic) online methodologies that have been used to carry out gaming addiction research. The specific online data collection methods examined include the collection of gambling and video game addiction research data via (i) online questionnaires, (ii) online forums, (iii) online participant observation, (iv) online secondary data, (v) online interviews, (vi) online exemplar websites, and (vii) mixed methods online evaluation. It is concluded that the many advantages of online research methods can be a useful and practical way of examining many different aspects of gambling and video game addictions.

Reflections on the Voluntary Self-Exclusion of Gamblers and the Law-Suits against Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation

Legalized gambling in Canada is governed by Provincial legislation. In Ontario, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is responsible for all aspects of gambling in the Province. There have been a number of recent lawsuits against this Crown agency of the Government of Ontario by gamblers, most of which have been settled or otherwise resolved. A recent class-action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of Ontario gamblers against this agency raises a number of interesting questions regarding the issue of responsibility and liability. The questions surround the issue of self-exclusionary practices of gamblers who deem themselves in need of external intervention in order interesting questions regarding the issue of responsibility and liability. The questions surround the issue to abstain from further gambling. A contract is voluntarily signed by the self-excluding gamblers whereby their further attendance at gaming venues is prevented and could be punishable by law. Where the gaming venues have failed to enforce the terms of this contract, gamblers have continued to gamble at these establishments. The class-action lawsuit stems from the grievances of these self-excluded gamblers who were not turned away. Relevant psychological theories and recent findings pertaining to gambling are reviewed and questions relevant to these grievances are discussed in favor of government responsibility and liability toward gamblers.

Gambling and problem gambling in Norway: What part does the gambling machine play?

In this article, the findings of a Norwegian national gambling survey carried out in 2002 among the adult population (aged 15–74 years) are discussed. While the survey shows a high level of gambling in the population as a whole (80.6% participation over the last 12 months), problem gambling levels are comparatively low (1.4% over the lifetime). This article suggests that this may partly be the result of a bias in the sample, and should be considered a conservative estimate. However, it also suggests that the scarcity of social arenas may have contributed to holding problem gambling levels down. This article concludes that further investigation should focus on the role of the social aspects of gambling in the problem-generating process. Problem gambling occurs more frequently among young people, men and people born outside Norway. The most common type of gambling for problem gamblers is playing on gambling machines; non-problem gamblers seem to prefer lotteries.

Australia's gambling policy: Motivations, implications, and options<xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn1">*</xref>

The paper will discuss current gambling policy in Australia. The attraction of the use of gambling as a method of "painless taxation" is recognised, but its potentiality for damaging individuals and society will be considered. Five policy options are identified. Much evidence will be drawn from the three-volume report Australia's Gambling Industries, and there will be an evaluation of the Australian Interactive Gambling Act, 2001. The assessment of the least damaging form of gambling policy, when all aspects of gambling are taken into account, is the ultimate aim of this paper.

Contemporary issues and future directions for research into pathological gambling.

The recent healthy increase in research into all aspects of gambling is noted. The dominant theme accounting for most of this research is the mental disorder model of pathological gambling and measures that have been derived from this conceptualization. It is suggested that an alternative approach focusing on the construct of choice or subjective control over gambling may be a research direction that will ensure that progress is maintained. In this paper a context for the discussion is provided by first identifying briefly fundamental conceptual and methodological issues associated with the mental disorder model. In particular it is argued that the heterogeneity of the diagnosis of pathological gambling makes the research task of assessing truly independent variables extremely difficult. Subsequently an illustrative schema is presented that demonstrates both the potential advantages and some of the complexities associated with the dependent variable of self-control over gambling behaviour. The main advantages are argued to be (a) the focus of research is narrowed to one potential cause of harmful impacts rather than the great diversity of impacts themselves, (b) prospective studies of regular gamblers in real gambling venues may be a key source of insight into the development of pathological gambling and (c) it promotes the development of theoretical links with the mainstream of the discipline of psychology. Despite the conceptual difficulties that may be associated with the variable of self-control, it is suggested that these may be overcome because contemporary research into the addictive behaviours has demonstrated considerable success in the definition and measurement of control and related themes such as craving, restraint and temptation.

The danger of over‐explanation in psychological research: A reply to Griffiths

According to Griffiths (1999), monetary rewards may only play a limited role in the maintenance of gambling behaviour. Many other factors, including near‐misses, excitement, and social rewards should be taken into account when trying to explain persistent gambling. In this paper, it is argued that this eclectic (biopsychosocial) approach needs to be applied with caution. This is because of the absence of clear operational definitions of these other reinforcers (e.g. ‘near‐misses’, social rewards); the fact that these reinforcers are likely to be related to the receipt or anticipation of monetary rewards (Walker, 1992); and the danger of over‐explanation. If reinforcers can be direct or indirect, monetary or non‐monetary, are there any aspects of gambling (apart from clear losses) which are not reinforcing?