scholarly journals Access or adaptation? A meta-analysis of surveys of problem gambling prevalence in Australia and New Zealand with respect to concentration of electronic gaming machines

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Storer ◽  
Max Abbott ◽  
Judith Stubbs
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Gaming Machines

scholarly journals Predicting Future Harm from Gambling over a Five-Year period in a General Population Sample: A Survival Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn Currie ◽  
David Hodgins ◽  
Robert Williams ◽  
Kirsten Fiest
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factors ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Risk Gambling ◽  
Gaming Machines ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background. There is little longitudinal evidence on the cumulative risk of harm from gambling associated with excess spending and frequency of play. The present study sought to assess the risk of gambling problems over a five-year period in adults who exceed previously derived low-risk gambling limits compared to those who remain within the limits after controlling for other modifiable risk factors. Methods. Participants were adults (N = 4212) drawn from two independent Canadian longitudinal cohort studies who reported gambling in the past year and were free of problem gambling at time 1. Multivariate Cox regression was employed to assess the impact over time of gambling above low-risk gambling thresholds (frequency ≥ 8 times per month; expenditure ≥ 75CAD per month; percent of household income spent on gambling ≥ 1.7%) on developing moderate harm and problem gambling. Covariates included presence of a DSM5 addiction or mental health disorder at time 1, irrational gambling beliefs, number of stressful life events in past 12 months, number of game types played each year, and playing electronic gaming machines or casino games. Results. In both samples, exceeding the low-risk gambling limits at time 1 significantly increased the risk of moderate harm (defined as ≥ 2 consequences on the Problem Gambling Severity Index [PGSI]) within five years after controlling for other modifiable risk factors. Other significant predictors of harm were presence of a mental disorder at time 1, cognitive distortions about gambling, stressful life events, and playing electronic gaming machines or casino games. In one sample, the five-year cumulative survival rate for moderate harm among individuals who stayed below all the low-risk limits was 95% compared to 83% among gamblers who exceeded all limits. Each additional low-risk limit exceeded increased the cumulative probability of harm by 30%. Similar results were found in models when the outcome was problem gambling.Conclusions. Level of gambling involvement represents a highly modifiable risk factor for later harm. Staying below empirically derived safe gambling thresholds reduces the risk of harm over time.

scholarly journals What Influences how New Zealanders use Information Displays? An Analysis of Electronic Gaming Machine Records

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Shannon Garland Duignan
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Slot Machines ◽  
Message Content ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Harm Minimisation ◽  
Information Displays ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machine ◽  
Gaming Machine ◽  
Gaming Machines

<p>Electronic gaming machines (slot machines) contribute to problem gambling in New Zealand and worldwide. Information displays are one harm minimisation feature of New Zealand electronic gaming machines that has been investigated in recent years. New Zealand gamblers see two types of displays: interruptive pop-up displays after a set period of time has passed, and elective displays if a player presses an information button. These displays inform the gambler about their current session with the intention that they will facilitate informed decisions about continuing play or quitting. The current study used a week-long set of electronic gaming machine data from across New Zealand to run an exploratory investigation into the utility of these information displays. We first observed that fewer than 2% of pop-up displays resulted in people quitting. On this basis it is unlikely that interruptive pop-up displays are meaningfully reducing harm. Our analysis also revealed timing differences in how pop-up displays are scheduled on machines produced by different manufacturers. The likelihood of quitting on a pop-up was influenced by complex interactions of machine and session characteristics, however these effects were small. Secondly, our investigation of elective displays also identified a low rate of access, indicating they are also unlikely to be working effectively as a harm minimisation tool. Analysis revealed players’ likelihood of accessing an elective display was mostly influenced by the venue type they were in and the manufacturer of the machine. Possible recommendations to improve both types of displays include changes to message content, scheduled timing and visual features.</p>

Pop-up messages on electronic gaming machines in New Zealand: experiences and views of gamblers and venue staff

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Landon ◽  
Katie Palmer du Preez ◽  
Maria Bellringer ◽  
Alyssa Page ◽  
Max Abbott
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Venue Staff ◽  
Gaming Machines

An Exploratory Study of Problem Gambling on Casino Versus Non-casino Electronic Gaming Machines

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Clarke ◽  
Justin Pulford ◽  
Maria Bellringer ◽  
Max Abbott ◽  
David C. Hodgins
Keyword(s):  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Gaming Machines

scholarly journals Predicting Future Harm from Gambling over a Five-Year period in a General Population Sample: A Survival Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn Currie ◽  
David Hodgins ◽  
Robert Williams ◽  
Kirsten Fiest
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factors ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Risk Gambling ◽  
Gaming Machines ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background. There is little longitudinal evidence on the cumulative risk of harm from gambling associated with excess spending and frequency of play. The present study sought to assess the risk of gambling problems over a five-year period in adults who exceed previously derived low-risk gambling limits compared to those who remain within the limits after controlling for other modifiable risk factors. Methods. Participants were adults (N = 4212) drawn from two independent Canadian longitudinal cohort studies who reported gambling in the past year and were free of problem gambling at time 1. Multivariate Cox regression was employed to assess the impact over time of gambling above low-risk gambling thresholds (frequency ≥ 8 times per month; expenditure ≥ $75CAN per month; percent of household income spent on gambling ≥ 1.7%) on developing moderate harm and problem gambling. Covariates included presence of a DSM5 addiction or mental health disorder at time 1, irrational gambling beliefs, number of stressful life events in past 12 months, number of game types played each year, and playing electronic gaming machines or casino games. Results. In both samples, exceeding the low-risk gambling limits at time 1 significantly increased the risk of moderate harm (defined as ≥ 2 consequences on the Problem Gambling Severity Index [PGSI]) within five years after controlling for other modifiable risk factors. Other significant predictors of harm were presence of a mental disorder at time 1, cognitive distortions about gambling, stressful life events, and playing electronic gaming machines or casino games. In one sample, the five-year cumulative survival rate for moderate harm among individuals who stayed below all the low-risk limits was 95% compared to 83% among gamblers who exceeded all limits. Each additional low-risk limit exceeded increased the cumulative probability of harm by 30%. Similar results were found in models when the outcome was problem gambling.Conclusions. Level of gambling involvement represents a highly modifiable risk factor for later harm. Staying below empirically derived safe gambling thresholds reduces the risk of harm over time.

scholarly journals The Legal Effect of Voluntary Self-Exclusion Programs for Problem Gambers

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Natalia Antolak-Saper
Keyword(s):  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Problem Gambler ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Harm Minimisation ◽  
Reasonable Expectation ◽  
Problem Gamblers ◽  
Reporting Requirements ◽  
Legal Effect ◽  
Problematic Gambling ◽  
Gaming Machines

The voluntary self exclusion program has been designed as one attempt to minimise the harm caused by problem gambling and electronic gaming machines. However, the program’s role as a genuine regulatory response is questionable. Few reporting requirements for gaming corporations and a reliance on an unsophisticated method of detecting self-excluded problem gamblers significantly undermine the purpose of the program. This paper considers the liability of gaming venues and corporations in circumstances where a self-excluded problem gambler has not been successfully excluded from the gaming venue. It is suggested that, in entering into the program, a problem gambler may be under a reasonable expectation that the gaming venue will assist in his or her endeavour to control the problematic gambling. Drawing primarily on the laws of Victoria, this article will discuss how the voluntary self-exclusion program is in need of reform so that it can better act as a harm minimisation mechanism. Further, the article will explore possible legal redress in contract, equity and under the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), for problem gamblers who have participated in an ineffective voluntary self-exclusion program.

scholarly journals Overconfidence in Understanding of How Electronic Gaming Machines Work Is Related to Positive Attitudes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kahlil S. Philander ◽  
Sally M. Gainsbury
Keyword(s):  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Gambling Behavior ◽  
Slot Machines ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Gambling Severity ◽  
Gaming Machines

Previous research has demonstrated that attitudes are a primary determinant of intention to gamble on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) consistent with the Theory of Reasoned Action. This paper aims to address how biases in judgment can contribute to attitudes and subsequently behavior, including maladaptive problematic gambling behavior. We take a novel approach by viewing overconfidence in one’s understanding of how outcomes are determined on EGMs as an indication of cognitive distortions. The novelty of this paper is further increased as we compare attitudes to existing EGMs with novel EGMs which include a skill component, referred to as skill-based gaming machines (SGMs), which enables a better controlled comparison between actual and perceived skill. In Study 1, 232 US-based participants were recruited online who were shown various slot machines and SGMs and asked a series of questions about perceived skill and chance in determining outcomes to assess their understanding, then were asked their confidence in their understanding, attitudes toward the machines and they completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index. In Study 2, 246 Australian participants were recruited through community and university student samples; they attended a laboratory where they were randomly allocated to play a real EGM or SGM without money and completed the same measures as in Study 1. In Study 2, participants were randomly told that the outcomes on the machine they would play were determined entirely by chance, skill, or a mixture of both. In both studies, our findings suggest that there are more extreme values in overconfidence in how EGMs work, whereas individuals are more similar in their confidence in understanding SGMs. We also find a relationship between overconfidence in EGM understanding and positive attitudes toward EGMs, but no such relationship with SGMs. There was no impact from controlling for demographics, problem gambling severity, or labeling of machines on these relationships.

scholarly journals Physical accessibility of gaming opportunity and its relationship to gaming involvement and problem gambling: A systematic review

2013 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie D. Vasiliadis ◽  
Alun C. Jackson ◽  
Darren Christensen ◽  
Kate Francis
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Treatment Seeking ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Electronic Gaming Machines ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Gambling Involvement ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Gaming Machines ◽  
Physical Accessibility

This paper presents the findings of a systematic search undertaken for the period January 1990 to June 2011 of references including original, empirical findings of the relationship between accessibility of electronic gaming machines and rates of gambling involvement, problem gambling, or gambling-related treatment seeking. Titles and abstracts of 2156 references were reviewed, yielding 39 references meeting inclusion criteria. The review has revealed that the relationships between the physical accessibility dimensions of proximity and density and gambling involvement and problem gambling are complex. Research is only beginning to elucidate these dimensions, and many questions and methodological challenges remain to be addressed. The strengths, limitations, and gaps in the literature are discussed, and recommendations are made for future research. Cet article présente les résultats d'une recherche documentaire systématique, effectuée entre janvier 1990 et juin 2011, incluant des résultats empiriques initiaux qui portaient sur la relation entre l'accessibilité aux appareils de jeu électroniques et les taux de participation au jeu, le jeu compulsif ou la recherche de traitement lié au jeu. On a étudié les titres et les résumés de 2 156 références, parmi lesquelles 39 correspondaient aux critères d'inclusion. Cette recherche a révélé la complexité des relations entre les dimensions d'accessibilité physique, c'est-à-dire la proximité et la densité d'une part, et la participation au jeu et le jeu compulsif d'autre part. La recherche commence à peine à élucider ces dimensions et de nombreuses questions et problèmes méthodologiques demeurent en suspens. L'article discute des forces, des limitations et des lacunes de la littérature spécialisée et formule des recommandations pour de futurs travaux de recherche.

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