High-risk Gamblers Research Articles

Responsible Gambling Telephone Intervention to High-Risk Gamblers by a State-Owned Gambling Operator in Sweden: Study Protocol for a Study on Effectiveness, User Satisfaction, and Acceptability.

Gambling disorder is associated with severe financial, social, and psychological consequences, but treatment-seeking rates have been described to be low. Apart from formal treatment, motivational interventions in nontreatment-seeking high-risk gamblers have been shown to be promising. However, little is known about the effectiveness and acceptability of such motivational interventions carried out by a gambling operator as part of the company’s responsible gambling policies. Early experiences of such interventions are limited by the risk that gambling in individuals reached with the intervention may continue with a different gambling operator. The present study aims to evaluate effectiveness and user acceptability of a responsible gambling intervention continuously carried out by the Swedish state-owned gambling operator Svenska Spel Sport & Casino. This intervention for high-risk gamblers, identified either through substantial monetary losses or through a voluntary self-test by the gambler, includes a motivational telephone intervention aiming to encourage the gambler to set deposit limits, practice self-exclusion, or seek help. This protocol paper describes the two-tailed evaluation of this intervention: (1) A retrospective, register-based study of the effectiveness of the motivational intervention on gambling expenditures, deposit limits, and self-exclusions in comparison to control individuals not reached by the intervention, including all clients reached or attempted to be reached during September 2019–April 2020 (total n = 3626), as well as a one-to-one matched comparison of clients reached (n = 1404) and not reached; and (2) a prospective web survey study in individuals reached by the same ongoing telephone intervention practice from November 2020 (target n = 200), measuring clients’ attitudes to the intervention, perceived effects of the intervention on gambling, and their self-reported gambling on all operators after the intervention.

The prevalence of loyalty program use and its association with higher risk gambling in Australia.

Background and aimsLoyalty programs are implemented widely by gambling operators to provide customers with additional prizes and benefits for consistent patronage. The aim of this paper was to examine whether loyalty programs were more commonly reported by higher risk gamblers in large population studies conducted in Australia.MethodThis paper examines the prevalence of loyalty program use and the association with problem gambling in Australia using data from seven out of 13 public gambling prevalence surveys conducted over the last decade.ResultsEvidence drawn from six of these seven studies showed consistent positive association between loyalty card use and higher risk gambling in venue-based gamblers. At least 40% of problem gamblers reported loyalty card use compared with only around 10% of gamblers in general.DiscussionThese observations suggest that there is a need to conduct more focused investigations on the utilisation of loyalty programs by higher risk gamblers.ConclusionsIt will be important to examine whether loyalty programs encourage or extend gambling sessions, but also how they can be used to facilitate responsible gambling initiatives and inform further behavioural research.

Online Gambling in the Midst of COVID-19: A Nexus of Mental Health Concerns, Substance Use and Financial Stress.

This study examined the emerging impact of COVID-19 on gambling during the first 6 weeks of emergency measures in Ontario, Canada. A cross-sectional online survey of 2005 gamblers, including a sub-sample of 1081 online gamblers (age 18 years and older), was administered to assess risky gambling behaviours and motivations, financial impacts from COVID-19, the influence of COVID-19 on online gambling, mental health concerns and substance use. A series of odds ratio comparisons and measures of association were carried out. Results show significant likelihood of online gambling among those classified as high-risk gamblers (according to the Problem Gambling Severity Index) and those with past experience of online gambling, though migration from land-based gambling was apparent. Among high-risk online gamblers, the most predictive risk factors included moderate and severe anxiety and depression, reduced work hours, being influenced to gamble due to COVID-19, gambling under the influence of cannabis or alcohol and risky gambling motives tied to mental health concerns, including gambling because it helps with nervousness and depression, chasing gambling losses and seeking to earn income. This study has confirmed many of the risk associations presented in emerging COVID-19-related studies and past research on global economic crisis relating to gambling risk, mental health concerns and substance use. However, unlike many past studies, the present paper takes note of all of these elements holistically and provides incremental clarity on online gambling risk factors during the pandemic, specifically.

Semiparametric model for regression analysis with nonmonotone missing data

Semiparametric likelihoods for regression models with missing at random data (Chen in J Am Stat Assoc 99:1176–1189, 2004, Zhang and Rockette in J Stat Comput Simul 77(2):163–173, 2007, Zhao et al. in Biom J 51: 123–136, 2009, Zhao in Commun Stat Theory Methods 38:3736–3744, 2009) are robust as they use nonparametric models for covariate distributions and do not require modeling the missing data probabilities. Furthermore, the EM algorithms based on the semiparametric likelihoods have closed form expressions for both E-step and M-step. As far as we know the semiparametric likelihoods can only deal with the simple monotone missing data pattern. In this research we extend the semiparemetric likelihood approach to deal with regression models with arbitrary nonmonotone missing at random data. We propose a pseudo-likelihood model, which uses an empirical distribution to model the conditional distribution of missing covariates given observed covariates for each missing data pattern separately. We show that an EM algorithm with closed form updating formulas can be used for computing maximum pseudo-likelihood estimates for regression models with nonmonotone missing data. We then propose estimating the asymptotic variance of the maximum pseudo-likelihood estimator through a profile log likelihood and the EM algorithm. We examine the finite sample performance of the new methods in simulation studies and further illustrate the methods in a real data example investigating high risk gambling behavior and the associated factors.

Positive play and its relationship with gambling harms and benefits.

BackgroundEngagement in responsible or ‘positive play’ strategies is known to be negatively associated with problem gambling, as indexed by measures such as the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Less is known about whether positive play is associated with reduced harm or a greater ability to enjoy the recreational benefits of gambling.AimsThis study investigated the relationship between positive play and gambling harm after controlling for PGSI scores and whether positive play moderated the relationship between PGSI scores and harm. It also examined whether positive play was related to perceived benefits associated with gambling.MethodsThe study utilised an online panel sample of 554 respondents who completed a survey that included the PGSI, measures of gambling harm drawn from Browne et al. (2016), and the newly developed Positive Play Scale (Wood et al., 2019). The study involved predominantly monthly gamblers with higher levels of gambling risk: 23% problem gamblers; 36% moderate risk; and 21% low risk gamblers.ResultsThe results indicated that positive play was negatively associated with reduced gambling harm. The behavioural Positive Play subscales relating to pre-commitment and honesty and control explained additional variation in harm after controlling for PGSI scores. Higher levels of positive play also moderated and reduced the relationship between the PGSI and gambling harm. Perceived benefits were, unexpectedly, found to be higher in problem gamblers and negatively related to positive play.ConclusionBehavioural measures of positive play appear to be useful moderating factors in understanding the relationship between problem gambling and harm. Higher-risk gamblers appear to experience both greater costs as well as benefits from gambling, which likely reflects a stronger personal need to engage in the activity.

Attentional biases in low-risk and high-risk gamblers and the moderating effect of daily psychosocial stress

Background and aims Psychosocial stress is associated with gambling urges and behavior. A large body of evidence also indicates that individuals who are at risk for disordered gambling are susceptible to attentional biases for gambling-related stimuli. Yet the extent to which psychosocial stress moderates these biases has not been fully investigated. The present study examined the effect of psychosocial stress on attentional biases for gambling stimuli in regular gamblers. Methods The sample was 87 undergraduate students who were categorized according to gambling severity scores (no-risk, low-risk, moderate/high-risk). Participants viewed pairs of gambling-related and neutral images for 8 s while their eye movements were tracked and recorded to measure their attention to the images. Results Each group exhibited a unique pattern of attending to the images over the 8-s presentations. As predicted, the moderate/high-risk group exhibited an attentional bias for gambling-related images that sustained throughout the 8-s presentations. Psychosocial stress was found to moderate attentional biases only for the low-risk group. Conclusions Psychosocial stress appears to influence attention toward gambling images only for low-risk gamblers. Our findings suggest that addressing underlying causes of stress in gamblers may be an effective method for reducing attentional biases to gambling stimuli and gambling problems and behaviors.

Measuring Gambling Harm: The Influence of Response Scaling on Estimates and the Distribution of Harm Across PGSI Categories.

Recent research has shown that harm is not just a feature of problem gambling, but can also be observed in other lower risk categories. Some debates exist, however, as to the distribution of harm across these categories and how harm should be best measured. This study was designed to examine how estimates of self-reported harm are affected by the methodology used. A particular focus was on how harm estimates for low and higher risk gambling (as classified by the PGSI) varied when respondents were able to make more graded attributions of their harm to gambling. An online panel sample of 554 gamblers responded to a brief survey that included the PGSI, measures of gambling harm drawn from Browne et al. (Assessing gambling-related harm in Victoria: a public health perspective, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Melbourne, 2016) as well as questions about demographics and gambling habits. The recruitment was designed to obtain good representation of each PGSI group, with 23% found to be problem gamblers; 36% moderate risk and 21% low risk gamblers. In support of Browne et al. (2016), the findings showed that higher proportions of harm in low risk gamblers is likely to be identified when one uses binary or 'any harm' scoring, but that this effect mostly disappears when more graded scoring or attribution of harm measures are used. Higher risk PGSI groups consistently reported more harms and more serious harms than lower risk groups. It was concluded that the measurement of gambling harm and its estimated distribution over PGSI categories is quite sensitive to how it is measured.

Cross National Consistency in Lower-Risk Gambling Limits: Linked Analyses Across Eight Countries

Background: A public health initiative that is common across jurisdictions is provision of advice to people to limit the frequency, amount of time and amount of money spent gambling in order to reduce the risk of gambling-related harm. The purpose of this study is to use consistent methodology with existing population-based prevalence surveys of gambling and related harms from different countries to identify quantitative limits for lower and higher risk gambling. Risk limits from different countries and for men and women are compared. Methods: Risk curve analyses were conducted with eleven high quality data sets from eight Western countries to identify optimal limits for predicting increased risk of gambling-related harms. Gambling indicators were monthly expenditure, percentage of income spent on gambling, monthly frequency, duration of gambling sessions, and number of different types of gambling. Harm indicators included financial, emotional, health, and relationship impacts. Findings: The limit ranges were remarkably consistent across harm indicators, cross nationally and between men and women. Reliable results were obtained for all gambling indicators except gambling session duration. Risk of gambling-related harm is likely to increase if an individual gambles at these levels of greater: $60 to $120 CAD per month, five to eight times per month, spends more than 1 to 3% of gross monthly income or plays three to four different gambling types. Interpretation: This study provides evidence that lower-risk gambling guidelines can be based upon empirically derived lower-risk limits, which are relatively consistent across Western countries. Funding Statement: La Fondation Mise sur Toi Declaration of Interests: DH, MA, RB, NB, JMC, MD, SK, DOUR, AS, RV, LN, and SC report receiving personal fees from the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction during this project. MY, CP, and MCFP have no conflicts to report.

Gambling Behaviour in the Cryptocurrency Market

This article examines whether the investment strategies of cryptocurrency market involve high-risk gambling. Results show that the cryptocurrency risk premiums co-move closely with the return on CBOE Volatility Index (VIX). As such, the strategies of cryptocurrency trading closely resemble that of high-risk gambling. In other words, traders' expectations co-move closely (significantly) with the expected future payoffs from gambling. The co-movement is more pronounced when the gambling offers gains rather than losses and the payoffs are above average. VIX index returns significantly Granger-cause CSAD of returns (with and without Bitcoin) indicates that the cryptocurrency trading constitutes a form of gambling where the motivation for gambling comes from the amount of variation (i.e. riskiness) in the gambling payoffs. These findings warrant policymakers of countries to revisit the existing regulatory framework governing the conduct of electronic finance in the financial services industry.

The relationship between bullying victimization and gambling among adolescents

ABSTRACTVictims of bullying are more likely to exhibit health problems, have declining grades, abuse drugs and alcohol, experience depression and low self-esteem. Although bullying victimization has been associated with a host of negative outcomes, problem gambling is a public health problem that has been neglected in the context of bullying victimization. This research investigated the relationship between high-risk gambling and bullying victimization. Responses about gambling behaviours, risk for problem gambling, and bullying victimization was collected from 7,045 high-school students (mean age 15 years old). Chi-square analyses were used to explore rates of bullying victimization (i.e. physical, verbal, cyber and indirect) based on gambling frequency and risk for gambling problems. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for male and female frequent gamblers to predict high-risk gambling based on bullying victimization. Results indicated that verbal bullying and the number of gambling activities one participated in the last year predicted high-risk gambling among males. For females, physical bullying and number of gambling activities predicted high-risk gambling. These results contribute to a better understanding of problem gambling and its relationship with various forms of bullying victimization among youth, with gender differences in the types of bullying victimization related to high-risk for problem gambling.

Does self-efficacy moderate the effect of gambling advertising on problem gambling behaviors?

Problem gambling causes significant harm to individuals and society. Financial losses from gambling in Australia exceed those anywhere else in the world. Problem gamblers are overrepresented among substance users and rural and remote Australians. Limited research exists on the impact of gambling advertising on problem gambling among those seeking substance use treatment, in rural/remote areas, and protective factors that may guard against these impacts. This study examined whether self-efficacy to control gambling moderated the relationship between the perceived impact of gambling advertising and problem gambling in people seeking treatment for substance use. Participants (N = 198, 60% female) who had recently sought treatment for substance use from services in rural/remote areas of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia, completed an anonymous online survey. Problem gambling severity was measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index, with 30% of participants showing at least moderate-risk problem gambling behaviors (12% moderate-risk gambling, 18% high-risk gambling). Moderated regression analyses found self-efficacy to control gambling significantly moderated the relationship between the perceived impacts of gambling advertising and the severity of problem gambling. At low levels of self-efficacy to control gambling, higher perceived impacts of advertising on gambling involvement and awareness were associated with higher levels of problem gambling behavior. However, at high levels of self-efficacy to control gambling, the association between problem gambling and impact of gambling advertising was weaker for involvement and not significant for awareness. Findings suggest that self-efficacy could be targeted as a treatment option to protect vulnerable groups from the effects of gambling advertising. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Gambling and Subsequent Road Traffic Injuries: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis.

To compare the risks of a road traffic injury (RTI) crash among adults who were involved in high-risk gambling and those who did not gamble. We conducted a linked longitudinal cohort analysis of adult persons in large population survey conducted during 2007 and 2008 in Ontario, Canada. We used responses to Problem Gambling Severity Index to distinguish persons as nongamblers, no-risk, low-risk, or high-risk gamblers. All persons were subsequently monitored for a subsequent RTI crash as a driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist up to March 31, 2014, through health insurance databases. We estimated relative risks as rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). In all, 30,652 adults were included, of whom 52% self-identified as gamblers, including 49% as no-risk gamblers, 2% as low-risk gamblers, and 1% as high-risk gamblers. During a median follow-up period of 6.8 years, 708 participants (2%) were involved in 821 RTI crashes. The absolute risks of an RTI were 6.4 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 3.7-10.4) in high-risk gamblers and 3.6 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 3.2-4.0) in nongamblers. The relative risks for RTI crashes were significantly higher in high-risk gamblers than in nongamblers (adjusted RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.03-2.76). The risks for RTI crashes as a driver were augmented in high-risk gamblers than in nongamblers (RR 1.97, 95% CI 1.13-3.43). We found an increased risk of an RTI crash among drivers who self-identified as high-risk gamblers. Further research exploring the underlying mechanisms of these associations might interest health professionals to monitor RTI risks in adults involved in high-risk gambling.

Irrational Beliefs and Social Adaptation of Online Sports Gamblers According to Addiction Level: A Comparative Study

The purpose of this study is to analyze the differences in psychological characteristics (i.e., irrational beliefs) and social adaptation according to a participant’s level of addiction to online sports gambling (i.e., non-problem, low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk gamblers). A survey was completed by participants of online sports gambling, aged 19 years or older; 291 completed questionnaires were obtained and analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). As results of this study, according to the level of addiction to online sports gambling, there were significant differences on people’s mental state and social adaptation. Specifically, the more people are attached to a group that is exposed to high gambling addiction risk, the more they tend to become irrational while gambling, adopt an overconfident viewpoint, and overestimate their techniques. Moreover, as addiction to online sports gambling worsens, adaptation problems begin to appear in their work and family lives. This study demonstrated that people who are addicted to online sports gambling tend to find difficulties in thinking reasonably and logically and struggle to lead normal lives. By raising awareness on online sports gambling addiction, this study could suggest a way out of the difficulty.

Gambling despite financial loss-the role of losses disguised as wins in multi-line slots.

Slot machines pose serious problems for a subset of gamblers. On multi-line slots, many small credit returns are less than one's spin wager, resulting in a net loss to the player. These outcomes are called 'losses disguised as wins' (LDWs). We aimed to show that different proportions of LDWs could differentially affect gambling persistence (continuing to gamble despite financial loss), but that such LDW effects may depend on problem gambling symptomatology. Gamblers were randomized to play 100 spins on a game with few, moderate or many LDWs (between-subjects design), then continued playing for as long as they wished during (unbeknown to players) a losing streak (to measure gambling persistence). A custom-built casino in a gambling research laboratory in Waterloo, Canada. Experienced gamblers (n=132) with varying levels of problem gambling symptomatology from the Waterloo, Canada community. We measured the number of voluntary spins participants played (persistence) during the losing streak following the 100-spin playing sessions. We measured problem gambling symptomatology using the Problem Gambling Severity Index, and classified them as non-problem (n=53), low-risk (n=55) or higher-risk (n=24) gamblers. Persistence trends differed depending on LDW frequency and problem-gambling status (interaction: P=0.037). High-risk gamblers showed a 'sweet spot' for LDW reinforcement, persisting for longer in the moderate than few or many LDW games (quadratic trend across LDW games: P=0.028). Non-problem gamblers showed a linear trend across LDW games, gambling for longer in the few LDW game (P=0.007). For low-risk gamblers, the quadratic contrast was not significant, P = 0.032. Multi-line slots contain outcomes in which one gains less than the original wager (losses disguised as wins or LDWs). Moderate (versus few and high) proportions of LDWs appear to make higher-risk players gamble for longer despite financial loss.

Psychological Vulnerability and Problem Gambling: The Mediational Role of Cognitive Distortions.

Despite numerous studies demonstrating the influence of cognitive distortions on gambling problem severity, empirical data regarding the role of psychological vulnerability on the latter is limited. Hence, this study assesses the mediating effect of cognitive distortions between psychological vulnerability (personality and mood), and gambling problem severity. It also verifies whether the relationships between these variables differs according to the preferred gambling activity. The sample is composed of 272 male gamblers [191 poker players; 81 video lottery terminal (VLT) players] aged between 18 and 82years (M=35.2). Bootstrap analysis results revealed that cognitive distortions mediate the effect of narcissism on gambling problem severity for both groups. The level of depression for VLT players significantly predicted gambling problem severity, both directly and indirectly via the mediating effect of cognitive distortions. Mediation analyses also indicated that narcissism had an indirect impact on problem gambling through cognitive distortions for both groups. These findings suggest that certain vulnerabilities related to personality and mood may influence cognitive distortion intensity and gambling problem severity. In addition, psychological vulnerabilities could differ based on preferred gambling activity. These results may be useful for prevention policies, identifying high risk gamblers and planning psychological interventions.

Luck, come here! Automatic approach tendencies toward gambling cues in moderate- to high-risk gamblers.

Similar to substance addictions, reward-related cognitive motivational processes, such as selective attention and positive memory biases, have been found in disordered gambling. Despite findings that individuals with substance use problems are biased to approach substance-related cues automatically, no study has yet focused on automatic approach tendencies for motivationally salient gambling cues in problem gamblers. We tested if moderate- to high-risk gamblers show a gambling approach bias and whether this bias was related prospectively to gambling behaviour and problems. Cross-sectional assessment study evaluating the concurrent and longitudinal correlates of gambling approach bias in moderate- to high-risk gamblers compared with non-problem gamblers. Online study throughout the Netherlands. Twenty-six non-treatment-seeking moderate- to high-risk gamblers and 26 non-problem gamblers community-recruited via the internet. Two online assessment sessions 6 months apart, including self-report measures of gambling problems and behaviour (frequency, duration and expenditure) and the gambling approach avoidance task, with stimuli tailored to individual gambling habits. Relative to non-problem gamblers, moderate- to high-risk gamblers revealed a stronger approach bias towards gambling-related stimuli than neutral stimuli (P=0.03). Gambling approach bias was correlated positively with past-month gambling expenditure at baseline (P=0.03) and with monthly frequency of gambling at follow-up (P=0.02). In multiple hierarchical regressions, baseline gambling approach bias predicted monthly frequency positively (P=0.03) and total duration of gambling episodes (P=0.01) 6 months later, but not gambling problems or expenditure. In the Netherlands, relative to non-problem gamblers, moderate- to high-risk gamblers appear to have a stronger tendency to approach rather than to avoid gambling-related pictures compared with neutral ones. This gambling approach bias is associated concurrently with past-month gambling expenditure and duration of gambling and has been found to predict persistence in gambling behaviour over time.

Eye on the Prize: High-Risk Gamblers Show Sustained Selective Attention to Gambling Cues

Disordered gambling is characterized by persistent and problematic gambling, leading to impairment or distress, which may be exacerbated by vigilance to gambling cues in the environment. Yet, questions regarding the specific attentional biases present in gamblers remain unresolved. In the current study, we used a rapid serial visual presentation paradigm to examine attentional orienting and maintenance/disengagement for gambling stimuli, relative to emotional and neutral stimuli, in high- and low-risk gamblers (N = 57). High-risk gamblers showed attentional biases for gambling stimuli, relative to other distractors, and these biases were observed at the level of attentional maintenance/disengagement. Low-risk gamblers showed some evidence of non-specific attentional biases (to negative and gambling pictures). Low-risk, but not high-risk, gamblers demonstrated sustained biases for negative items and facilitated disengagement from positive items. Findings highlight differences in attentional processes between high- and low-risk gamblers and point to sustained biases as worthy targets for clinical interventions. Future work should assess the malleability of gambling biases in high-risk gamblers and determine whether altering attention to gambling items influences gambling behaviour.Le jeu compulsif est caractérisé par des comportements liés au jeu qui sont problématiques et persistants, et qui entraînent une détresse ou une incapacité à fonctionner pouvant être exacerbées par l’attention accordée aux signaux associés au jeu dans l’environnement. Pourtant, les questions relatives à la présence d’un biais attentionnel spécifique chez les joueurs demeurent sans réponses. La présente étude a utilisé un modèle de présentation visuelle sérielle rapide (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation [RSVP]) afin d’examiner l’orientation de l’attention et le maintien ou le décrochage de celle-ci en présence de stimuli liés au jeu par rapport à des stimuli neutres et chargés émotivement chez des joueurs à faible risque et à haut risque (N = 57). Un biais attentionnel pour les stimuli liés au jeu pouvant aller jusqu’au maintien ou au décrochage de l’attention a été observé chez les joueurs à haut risque, par rapport aux autres éléments de distraction. Les données sur les joueurs à faible risque indiquent quant à elles la présence d’un biais attentionnel non spécifique (pour les images de jeu et négatives). Un biais attentionnel soutenu pour les éléments négatifs facilitant le décrochage de l’attention à des éléments positifs a été observé chez les joueurs à faible risque, mais non chez ceux à haut risque. Les résultats de l’étude mettent d’une part en évidence les différences entre le processus attentionnel des joueurs à haut risque et celui des joueurs à faible risque, et indiquent d’autre part que les biais attentionnels soutenus peuvent constituer les cibles d’intervention cliniques efficaces. Une prochaine étude devra évaluer la malléabilité du biais attentionnel pour le jeu des joueurs à haut risque et déterminer si une modification de l’attention accordée aux éléments liés au jeu peut influencer les comportements associés au jeu.

Eye on the Prize: High-Risk Gamblers Show Sustained Selective Attention to Gambling Cues

Disordered gambling is characterized by persistent and problematic gambling, leading to impairment or distress, which may be exacerbated by vigilance to gambling cues in the environment. Yet, questions regarding the specific attentional biases present in gamblers remain unresolved. In the current study, we used a rapid serial visual presentation paradigm to examine attentional orienting and maintenance/disengagement for gambling stimuli, relative to emotional and neutral stimuli, in high- and low-risk gamblers (N = 57). High-risk gamblers showed attentional biases for gambling stimuli, relative to other distractors, and these biases were observed at the level of attentional maintenance/disengagement. Low-risk gamblers showed some evidence of non-specific attentional biases (to negative and gambling pictures). Low-risk, but not high-risk, gamblers demonstrated sustained biases for negative items and facilitated disengagement from positive items. Findings highlight differences in attentional processes between high- and low-risk gamblers and point to sustained biases as worthy targets for clinical interventions. Future work should assess the malleability of gambling biases in high-risk gamblers and determine whether altering attention to gambling items influences gambling behaviour.Le jeu compulsif est caractérisé par des comportements liés au jeu qui sont problématiques et persistants, et qui entraînent une détresse ou une incapacité à fonctionner pouvant être exacerbées par l’attention accordée aux signaux associés au jeu dans l’environnement. Pourtant, les questions relatives à la présence d’un biais attentionnel spécifique chez les joueurs demeurent sans réponses. La présente étude a utilisé un modèle de présentation visuelle sérielle rapide (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation [RSVP]) afin d’examiner l’orientation de l’attention et le maintien ou le décrochage de celle-ci en présence de stimuli liés au jeu par rapport à des stimuli neutres et chargés émotivement chez des joueurs à faible risque et à haut risque (N = 57). Un biais attentionnel pour les stimuli liés au jeu pouvant aller jusqu’au maintien ou au décrochage de l’attention a été observé chez les joueurs à haut risque, par rapport aux autres éléments de distraction. Les données sur les joueurs à faible risque indiquent quant à elles la présence d’un biais attentionnel non spécifique (pour les images de jeu et négatives). Un biais attentionnel soutenu pour les éléments négatifs facilitant le décrochage de l’attention à des éléments positifs a été observé chez les joueurs à faible risque, mais non chez ceux à haut risque. Les résultats de l’étude mettent d’une part en évidence les différences entre le processus attentionnel des joueurs à haut risque et celui des joueurs à faible risque, et indiquent d’autre part que les biais attentionnels soutenus peuvent constituer les cibles d’intervention cliniques efficaces. Une prochaine étude devra évaluer la malléabilité du biais attentionnel pour le jeu des joueurs à haut risque et déterminer si une modification de l’attention accordée aux éléments liés au jeu peut influencer les comportements associés au jeu.

Blame It on Reno: a Commentary on Hancock and Smith

In this article, we provide a commentary on Hancock and Smith’s critique of the Reno model of responsible gambling. In our view, Hancock and Smith raise many legitimate concerns about the progress of gambling policy reform. Most attempts at minimising the harm associated with higher risk gambling products such as EGMs have been based on responsible gambling principles rather than a true consumer protection framework. As a result, much of the emphasis has been on modifying individual behaviour rather than significant reforms relating to industry operations, practices and the nature of the products. On the whole, we endorse these views. However, we argue that the paper depicts developments in research and policy a bit too selectively and also imputes too many causal links between the Reno model and other activities in the gambling sector. Some reforms and research topics identified in the paper have been discussed, investigated or implemented in some jurisdictions. Other issues including the slow replacement cycle of gambling technology and the structure of the gaming industry may also need to be considered as barriers to reform.

Individual Differences in Subjective Utility and Risk Preferences: The Influence of Hedonic Capacity and Trait Anxiety.

Individual differences in decision-making are important in both normal populations and psychiatric conditions. Variability in decision-making could be mediated by different subjective utilities or by other processes. For example, while traditional economic accounts attribute risk aversion to a concave subjective utility curve, in practice other factors could affect risk behavior. This distinction may have important implications for understanding the biological basis of variability in decision-making and for developing interventions to improve decision-making. Another aspect of decision-making that may vary between individuals is the sensitivity of subjective utility to counterfactual outcomes (outcomes that could have occurred, but did not). We investigated decision-making in relation to hedonic capacity and trait anxiety, two traits that relate to psychiatric conditions but also vary in the general population. Subjects performed a decision-making task, in which they chose between low- and high-risk gambles to win 0, 20, or 40 points on each trial. Subjects then rated satisfaction after each outcome on a visual analog scale, indicating subjective utility. Hedonic capacity was positively associated with the subjective utility of winning 20 points but was not associated with the concavity of the subjective utility curve (constructed using the mean subjective utility of winning 0, 20, or 40 points). Consistent with economic theory, concavity of the subjective utility curve was associated with risk aversion. Hedonic capacity was independently associated with risk seeking (i.e., not mediated by the shape of the subjective utility curve), while trait anxiety was unrelated to risk preferences. Contrary to our expectations, counterfactual sensitivity was unrelated to hedonic capacity and trait anxiety. Nevertheless, trait anxiety was associated with a self-report measure of regret-proneness, suggesting that counterfactual influences may occur via a pathway that is separate from immediate counterfactual processing biases. Taken together, our results show that hedonic capacity but not trait anxiety affects risk-taking through a mechanism that appears independent of the shape of the subjective utility curve, while hedonic capacity and trait anxiety do not affect the influence of counterfactual outcomes on subjective utility. The results have implications for understanding the underlying mechanisms of variable decision-making and for developing interventions to improve decision-making.