Gaming Machine Players Research Articles

Awareness and impact of casino responsible gambling/harm minimization measures among Canadian electronic gaming machine players

ABSTRACT Responsible Gambling/Harm Minimization (RG/HM) measures have the potential to reduce population level gambling harms. The present study examines Canadian casino electronic gaming machine (EGM) players’ (n = 2808) awareness of a selection of the available RG/HM measures, and the impact they believed these measures had on their gambling expenditure and enjoyment. The results showed that Canadian casino EGM players were generally aware of most of the measures, with this awareness being significantly higher among at-risk and problem/pathological gamblers. However, these measures had very little perceived impact on their gambling expenditure or enjoyment. Subsequent multivariate analyzes found that a) increased levels of overall awareness of RG/HM measures were related to male gender, younger age, and higher importance of gambling as a leisure activity; b) that decreased perceived expenditure from RG/HM measures were related to younger age, being an at-risk gambler, and the frequency of limit setting in the context of gambling play; and c) increased perceived enjoyment from RG/HM measures were related to lower household incomes. Messages targeted at Canadian casino EGM players who appear sensitive to the potential and actual harms of gambling, and messages relating to limit setting frequency in the context of gambling play, may impact gambling perceptions.

Self-Regulatory Strategies Reduce Gambling Spend and Harm in a Randomised Controlled Trial of Electronic Gaming Machine Players

AbstractResearch provides insights into the self-regulatory strategies (SRSs) gamblers use, but evidence supporting their efficacy is weak. Study 1 aimed to identify a set of SRSs that best predict less harmful gambling amongst electronic gaming machine (EGM) players who are most vulnerable to EGM-related harm. Study 2 aimed to test their efficacy as a brief intervention in a randomised controlled trial. Study 1 surveyed 2032 EGM players and compared SRS-use amongst harmed and less-harmed players after propensity matching and weighting. Study 2 delivered 13 efficacious SRSs identified in study 1 as a brief intervention in a three-wave RCT and assessed their effect on time and money spent on EGMs and EGM-related harm. In study 1, the individual use of 17 SRSs and the total count of these SRSs used were associated with lower EGM-related harm. In study 2, assignment to three SRSs resulted in reduced EGM spend, with no detectable effects for 10 other SRSs. More frequent reported use of one of the same SRSs and an additional two SRSs also resulted in reduced EGM spend and/or reduced EGM-related harm. The results provide new evidence about the efficacy of certain SRSs to result in beneficial gambling outcomes: setting aside a fixed amount to spend, taking regular breaks, keeping leisure time busy with other activities, not gambling due to boredom, and keeping a household budget. These SRSs could be communicated as actionable strategies people can use to help reduce gambling harm.

Age and gender differences in gambling intensity in a Norwegian population of electronic gaming machine players

ABSTRACT Participation in various types of gambling is associated with age and gender. Younger men tend to be drawn toward online gambling whereas women and older individuals tend to engage more in land-based gambling such as electronic gaming machines (EGMs). The present study examined how annual trends in theoretical loss, a robust measure of risk propensity/gambling intensity, varied according to age groups and gender among an EGM-population in Norway (N = 195,318, 26.5% women, age range 18 to 103 years [M = 40.13, SD = 16.29]). Quantile regression on the 25th percentile, median, and 90th percentile theoretical loss showed that higher theoretical loss at these quantiles were associated with older age. At the 90th percentile: Individuals aged 60–69 years had highest theoretical loss at 15,343 NOK (1,784 USD). Compared to men, women had higher 90th percentile theoretical loss (1,658 NOK≈193 USD). Interaction analyses showed that the positive association between age and theoretical loss was stronger for men compared to women. Gambling expenditure is positively associated with disordered gambling and the findings suggests that older individuals and women represent more vulnerable groups among the EGM population.

Telescoping and gender differences in high-risk gambling: Loss limit behavior in a population of electronic gaming machine players.

Telescoping refers to the accelerated progression from starting a potentially addictive behavior to reaching a disordered level. For disordered gambling, telescoping has been reported for women compared to men. Most previous studies on telescoping have used clinical samples and retrospective reports, but this study examined a nonclinical population of gamblers using electronically tracked gambling behavior. The sample consisted of Norsk Tipping's Multix electronic gaming machine (EGM) customers during the period of March 2013-December 2018 (n = 184,113, 27.0% women, age range from 18 to 103 years, M = 41, SD = 16). We hypothesized that women would be older than men when first playing Multix and that the time between first playing Multix to reaching first loss limit (money one is allowed to lose) would be shorter for women compared to men. Welch two-sample t tests revealed that women were older than men at Multix gambling onset (Women: M = 46, SD = 17; Men: M = 40, SD = 15; p < .001). Kaplan-Meier revealed a median survival time of 46 months, 95% CI [45, 47], for women and 55 months, 95% CI [54, 56], for men before the first loss limit. Cox regression showed higher risk for meeting the loss limit for women compared to men, HR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.20, 1.25], p < .001, when controlling for age. Prevention efforts should consider that adult women playing EGMs appear to be at risk for developing high-risk gambling faster than men. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Gambling-related psychological predictors and moderators of attentional bias among electronic gaming machine players.

Objective: Attentional biases (ABs) have been shown to develop in the context of substance use disorders. Relatively less focus has been paid toward the development of ABs in behavioral addictions such as gambling disorder (GD). Furthermore, the psychological predictors and moderators of AB in GD remain unknown. The present study addressed these empirical gaps. Methods: Fifty-two non-GD electronic gaming machine (EGM) players, 25 GD-EGM players, and 61 non-gamblers completed measures of gambling-related behaviors and cognitions (problem gambling severity, cravings, expectancies, motives) and substance use and mental health (alcohol use severity, depression symptoms). The relationships between these constructs and AB for EGM images were then assessed using a free-viewing eye-tracking paradigm. Results: Non-GD EGM players and GD-EGM players attended to EGM images significantly more than neutral images (with the largest AB for the EGM players with GD). For all EGM players, gambling expectancies regarding the negative emotional impact of gambling and alcohol use severity were associated with greater AB. For non-GD EGM players only, AB was moderated by the anticipation aspect of gambling craving and the self-enhancement aspect of gambling expectancies. Conclusion: The results provide further evidence that ABs develop in the context of excessive gambling and are associated with gambling and psychological variables. The findings support the incentive-salience theory of ABs in gambling and provide a rationale for the development of AB modification programs in the treatment of gambling disorder. Given the predominantly white sample, our results may not generalize to individuals of other ethnicities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Gambling behavior in alcohol-serving and non-alcohol-serving-venues: a study of electronic gaming machine players using account records

Aim: Contextual factors, such as venue characteristics appear to influence gambling behavior. However, few studies have compared the relationship between gambling behavior in alcohol-serving venues (ASVs) and non-alcohol serving venues (NASVs). The aim of the study was to examine individual gambling behavior in ASVs and NASVs.Method: A repeated-measures design was used to examine individual gambling behavior in ASVs and NASVs covering a month. The sample comprised 1452 observations of 726 individuals (25.2% female). A quantile regression model was conducted to examine individual differences in gambling behavior (number of days, sessions, bets made, stake, time spent, money lost, and average bet size) across ASVs and NASVs. Analyses were broken down by gambler category (those that reached legal mandatory spending limits and those that did not) as well as on time frame (overall gambling behavior and average in-session gambling behavior).Results: Individuals gambled regularly in NASVs and occasionally in ASVs. Compared to NASVs, in-session gambling behavior was more variable in ASVs. In-session analysis showed that non-limit reaching gamblers staked less money in ASVs than in NASVs but lost more money in ASVs than in NASVs. Limit reaching gamblers showed no differences in gambling behavior across venues.Conclusions: The findings show that in-session gambling behavior is more variable in ASVs compared to NASVs regardless of gambling category. Non-limit reaching gamblers may be more sensitive to contextual factors than limit reaching gamblers and appear to be more willing to take more risk in ASVs compared to NASVs. The contextual implications are discussed.

A Tap on the Shoulder: The Disciplinary Techniques and Logics of Anti-Pokie Apps

A Tap on the Shoulder: The Disciplinary Techniques and Logics of Anti-Pokie Apps

Problem gambling subtypes based on psychological distress, alcohol abuse and impulsivity

The notion of comorbidities within problem gambling populations has important clinical implications, particularly for appropriate treatment matching. The comorbidities most commonly cited in problem gambling literature include depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse and impulsivity. Previous research shows evidence of patterns in multiple co-occurring comorbidities and that there may be different subtypes of gamblers based on these patterns. To further the current understanding of gambling subtypes, the aim of our study was to identify subtypes of gamblers currently in treatment. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis yielded four mutually exclusive groups of 202 gamblers: (1) gamblers with comorbid psychological problems (35%); (2) ‘pure’ gamblers without other comorbidities (27%); (3) gamblers with comorbid alcohol abuse (25%); and (4) ‘multimorbid’ gamblers (13%). The four groups differed on demographic information, drug use and gambling behaviours including gambling activity and problem gambling severity. Gamblers with comorbid psychological problems were more likely to be older women on low income, more likely to report a family history of psychological problems and were more often electronic gaming machine players. As expected, ‘pure’ gamblers had lower problem gambling severity and were more likely to report current abstinence. Gamblers with comorbid alcohol abuse were more likely to be young men who used stimulant drugs, endorsed a higher quality of life and worked full-time. ‘Multimorbid’ gamblers were elevated on all comorbidities, had general problems related to their health and wellbeing and reported high rates of hostility and aggression. These groups combine elements of existing conceptual models of gambling subtypes and may require different treatments.

All Mixed Up Together: Women’s Experiences of Problem Gambling, Comorbidity and Co-occurring Complex Needs

While there has been minimal recent gendered gambling research conducted in Australia and elsewhere, there is some evidence to suggest that gender differences do exist in various ways including gambling motivations such as gambling used as a coping strategy to alleviate or ‘escape’ from stress and anxiety, help-seeking and prevalence of comorbidity. In this Australian qualitative study we explored the experiences and concerns of 20 women electronic gaming machine players through in-depth interviews. Ten women self-identified as recreational gamblers and 10 had received help for their gambling. We present findings as they relate to specific issues of comorbidity and complex needs. For the 10 women who had received gambling help the range of comorbid issues was extensive. Greater understandings of the range of complex issues often involved for women who gamble problematically will assist in the identification of moving from recreational to problem gambling and in the implementation of effective treatment strategies.

Facilitating Responsible Gambling: The Relative Effectiveness of Education-Based Animation and Monetary Limit Setting Pop-up Messages Among Electronic Gaming Machine Players

Although most gamblers set a monetary limit on their play, many exceed this limit—an antecedent of problematic gambling. Responsible gambling tools may assist players to gamble within their means. Historically, however, the impact of such tools has been assessed in isolation. In the current research, two responsible gambling tools that target adherence to a monetary limit were assessed among 72 electronic gaming machine (EGM) players. Participants watched an educational animation explaining how EGMs work (or a neutral video) and then played an EGM in a virtual reality environment. All participants were asked to set a monetary limit on their play, but only half were reminded when that limit was reached. Results showed that both the animation and pop-up limit reminder helped gamblers stay within their preset monetary limit; however, an interaction qualified these main effects. Among participants who did not experience the pop-up reminder, those who watched the animation stayed within their preset monetary limits more than those who did not watch the animation. For those who were reminded of their limit, however, there was no difference in limit adherence between those who watched the animation and those who did not watch the animation. From a responsible gambling perspective, the current study suggests that there is no additive effect of exposure to both responsible gambling tools. Therefore, for minimal disruption in play, a pop-up message reminding gamblers of their preset monetary limit might be preferred over the lengthier educational animation.

Instrumental tool or drug: Relationship between attitudes to money and problem gambling

Few studies have explored gamblers’ attitudes towards money despite the central role money plays in the development and maintenance of problem gambling (PG) behaviours. This study explored attitudinal differences towards money among subgroups of electronic gaming machine players (n = 127) using the framework advanced by Lea and Webley . Money as tool, money as drug: The biological psychology of a strong incentive. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 29:161–209]: the Tool Theory, in which money functions instrumentally as a means of obtaining certain commodities, and the Drug Theory, in which money is considered to exert action at a neurochemical level to produce reinforcing effects similar to drug use. Findings provided preliminary support for the Drug Theory in PG. In contrast to non-problem gamblers, problem gamblers reported significant obsessions with money as an important indicator of prestige, power and means of acquiring wealth. At the same time, however, problem gamblers endorsed high levels of anxiety over money, both in regard to worrying about money and viewing money as a way to reduce anxiety. The study also provided limited support for the hypothesis that non-problem gamblers were more likely to gamble to combat perceived inadequacy in providing for their families (i.e. Tool Theory), although differences in univariate analyses were not sustained in logistic regression analyses.

Differences between problem and nonproblem gamblers in subjective arousal and affective valence amongst electronic gaming machine players

Arousal-based theories of gambling suggest that excitement gained from gambling reinforces further gambling behavior. However, recent theories of emotion conceptualize mood as comprising both arousal and valence dimensions. Thus, excitement comprises arousal with positive valence. We examined self-reported changes in arousal and affective valence in 27 problem and 40 nonproblem gamblers playing electronic gaming machines (EGMs). Problem gamblers reported greater arousal increases after gambling and increases in negative valence if they lost. This accords poorly with an excitement-based explanation of problem gambling.

The relationship between anxiety, smoking, and gambling in electronic gaming machine players.

Given higher reported rates of smoking in populations under treatment for problem gambling, in a sample of 81 Electronic Gaming Machine players, this study considered whether: 1) there were relationships between tobacco dependency and problem gambling, and 2) a common mechanism such as negative affect was involved. The untreated sample comprised eighty-one Electronic Gaming Machine players that completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen, the Tobacco Dependence Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. There was a relationship between smoking status and scores on the South Oaks Gambling Screen, and negative affect contributed to both gambling problems and tobacco dependence. It was suggested that gambling problems and tobacco dependence have similar characteristics. The data has implications for treatment and anti-smoking legislation in gaming venues.

Definition and measurement of chasing in off-course betting and gaming machine play.

The attempt to recover gambling losses by continuing to gamble ('chasing') has featured prominently in accounts of excessive gambling. This research represents the first attempt to operationalize and measure chasing in terms of its cognitive (behavioral intention), emotive (urges) and behavioral components, and to investigate the role of chasing in relation to impaired control over gambling. Two survey samples of 84 male off-course (betting shop) race gamblers (mean age 41, SD = 15) and 137 gaming machine players (73 females, mean age 48, SD = 15 and 64 males, mean age 43, SD = 16) were recruited at gambling venues. Respondents completed a structured questionnaire that investigated retrospective report of chasing and an impaired control scale ("The Scale of Gambling Choices"). It was found that the various components of chasing formed a composite measure with high internal reliability that was strongly related to indicators of excessive gambling (e.g. time spent gambling, expenditure as a proportion of income) and to impaired control scores. Reacting to large wins by further betting was almost as strongly related to impaired control as was persistence after losing. Those who returned later to chase had significantly higher impaired control scores than those who only chased within a session. Alcohol-related chasing was associated with impaired control over gambling. Chasing of losses and impaired control appear to be generic processes in evidence across both forms of gambling and gender (most format and sex differences were of minor significance).

An empirical study of sex differences in gaming machine play among club members

This paper helps address a deficiency of gender specific research into gambling. Using predominantly non‐parametric tests, the paper analyses data from 1,257 female and 1,743 male respondents in a telephone survey of 3,000 members selected randomly from six large Sydney clubs. The results support female gambling stereotypes of lower individual bets and lower overall expenditure, but not of lower participation and frequency of play, and shorter duration of gambling sessions. Further, regular female gaming machine players appear more likely than non‐regular female players to be migrants, either young or old, and from lower socio‐economic groups. Regular female gaming machine players also appear to forgo the social side of playing machines, to spend more overall and to be more at risk of problem gambling than non‐regular female players. Finally, the distinguishing socio‐demographic characteristics and machine playing behaviours of regular male gaming machine players are very similar to those for regular female gaming machine players.

WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL COSTS OF GAMBLING?: THE CASE OF THE QUEENSLAND MACHINE GAMING INDUSTRY

Gambling has frequently been blamed for contributing to a range of social and economic problems for players and their families. The introduction of gaming machines (more commonly referred to as “poker machines” or “pokies”) to clubs and hotels in Queensland in 1992 attracted such criticism. This paper presents data from a survey conducted in Brisbane in May 1994, funded by the Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs, which seeks to assess the characteristics of gaming machine players and to evaluate the extent to which players and their families seem disproportionately likely to experience social and economic difficulties. The survey led to a number of noteworthy findings, many of which challenge conventional stereotypes concerning the characteristics of players and the consequences of their playing. Firstly, men, the young and those in employment are disproportionately likely to be players. Secondly, playing is spread evenly across different occupations and levels of educational achievement. Thirdly, most players appear not to play very often or spend very large amounts of money. Fourthly, while there is evidence that money is being diverted from necessities to machine gaming, there is virtually no evidence of an association between machine playing and economic hardship.