Assessing the effectiveness of a responsible gambling behavioural feedback tool for reducing the gambling expenditure of at-risk players

The current study assessed the utility of a responsible gambling (RG) tool that provides players with behavioural feedback about their gambling. Data was obtained from 779 people (n = 694 male; n = 85 female) who gambled online with Svenska Spel (the Swedish gambling operator) and who opted to receive behavioural feedback via an RG tool (Playscan). Importantly, data was also obtained from a matched sample of 779 players who did not opt to receive behavioural feedback. Feedback took the form of a colour-coded risk rating (Green = no issues, Yellow = at-risk, Red = problematic), which was determined by a proprietary algorithm. Additionally, gambling expenditure data (amounts deposited and wagered) was gathered for the week in which players enrolled to use the RG tool, the subsequent week and 24 weeks later (this data was also gathered for the matched sample). Results showed that Yellow (i.e. at-risk) players who used the tool significantly reduced the amounts of money deposited and wagered compared to players who did not use the tool – an effect observed the week following enrolment as well as 24 weeks later. Thus, informing at-risk players who have opted to receive feedback about their gambling appears to have a positive impact on subsequent expenditures.     

Description and pre-post evaluation of a telephone and Internet based treatment programme for pathological gambling in Norway: a pilot study

Although the effectiveness of treatments for pathological gamblers is gaining support, only 10% of pathological gamblers seek treatment. Providing treatment via the Internet may lower the thresholds for treatment seeking. A new telephone and Internet based treatment programme for pathological gamblers is presented in this article, along with a pre-post evaluation of the programme. The participants (N = 112) were problem gamblers who were either self-referred or referred by their general practitioner. Data from post-treatment and 3-month follow-up are evaluated. The results suggest that using Internet and telephone-assisted treatment interventions can significantly reduce symptoms of pathological gambling (measured by the South Oaks Gambling Screen – Revised). The intervention was also associated with improvement on cognitive distortions, measured by the Gamblers Belief Questionnaire, and general psychological distress and psychopathology as measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Although Internet-based treatment programmes have been suggested to have advantages compared to traditional face-to-face therapy, research in this area is scarce. This pilot study contributes to the growing literature in this area, and provides tentative support for the effectiveness of Internet based treatment interventions for pathological gamblers.     

Perceived stigma and self-stigma of problem gambling: perspectives of people with gambling problems

Minimal research has investigated the stigma associated with problem gambling, despite its major hindrance to help-seeking and recovery. This study explored perceived stigma and self-stigma to examine stigmatizing beliefs held, how they may be internalized, coping mechanisms, and effects on help-seeking. In-depth interviews with 44 people experiencing gambling problems were analysed using interpretive phenomenology. Results revealed an overwhelming perception that problem gambling attracts acute public stigma and is publicly viewed as caused by personal failings. Participants had serious concerns about being viewed as ‘a problem gambler’, fearing demeaning stereotypes, social rejection, hostile responses and devaluing behaviours. Many participants internalized perceived stigma as self-stigma, with deleterious reported effects on self-esteem, self-efficacy, perceived social worth, and mental and physical health. Deep shame was a near universal emotion and exacerbated by relapse. Secrecy was the main coping mechanism used, with perceived and self-stigma found to act as major barriers to disclosure and help-seeking. The findings can inform the development of a valid understanding and conceptualization of problem gambling stigma. This is a prerequisite for effective stigma-reduction strategies to reduce public stigma and discrimination, and to lower perceived and self-stigma and increase the use of treatment services and other interventions by people with gambling problems.     

Passion for gambling: a scoping review

Investigating factors that influence a person’s ability to control gambling behaviour is important. The Dualistic Model of Passion, which includes both harmonious and obsessive passion, has proposed an original framework for studying these factors. However, the concept of passion as it pertains to the gambling experience remains relatively new and uncharted territory. This study entails a scoping review undertaken to determine the current state of knowledge concerning passion for gambling, and to provide recommendations for future research directions. The majority of studies included report a positive association between obsessive passion and gambling problems, whereas results related to harmonious passion were less consistent. Recommendations stemming from this scoping review include refining understanding of the relationship between obsessive passion and gambling problems, and broadening research aims to include more diverse sampling, methods and variables of interest when examining the overall contribution of passion to gamblers’ lived experiences. A final recommendation is to initiate research to test the utility of the Gambling Passion Scale in prevention and intervention programming.     

Problem gambling,familial violence and alcohol misuse: exploring the triad for treatment-seekers

Research into the co-occurrence of problem gambling, familial violence, and alcohol misuse is limited. While these issues have been considered in combination (i.e. violence and alcohol misuse, problem gambling and alcohol misuse, problem gambling and violence), within Australia, in particular, there has been an absence of exploration of this triad. The current research attempts to fill the gap in the literature, to establish whether there is any difference between problem gamblers with co-occurring violence and problem gamblers who had not experienced violence in terms of their alcohol misuse and gambling behaviours. Interviews were conducted with 81 treatment-seeking problem gamblers to explore how a history of victimization only, perpetration only, victimization and perpetration, or no history of family violence impacted on gambling behaviours (including baseline Victorian Gambling Screen), as well as alcohol misuse. Results indicated that in this treatment-seeking sample there were no significant differences for gambling behaviours or alcohol misuse between problem gamblers with issues of violence and those without. Males demonstrated (on average) a greater tendency toward hazardous drinking or disordered alcohol use. It would be prudent for treatment services to routinely examine problem gamblers' history of violence and alcohol misuse until research verifies the nature of this triad.     

Forms of gambling,gambling involvement and problem gambling: evidence from a Swedish population survey

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between problem gambling (PG) and participation in different forms of gambling in order to elucidate relationships between PG, gambling involvement and gambling intensity. Using data from the first wave of the Swedish Longitudinal Gambling Study (Swelogs) (n = 4,991), the study tested four hypotheses, namely that (1) some forms of gambling are more closely associated with PG than other forms; (2) high gambling involvement is associated with PG; (3) gambling involvement is positively associated with the intensity of gambling; and (4) the relationship between gambling involvement and PG is influenced by the specific forms of gambling in which individuals participate. All four hypotheses were supported. More specifically, the study found that while many PGs regularly participate in multiple forms of gambling, half of PGs participate regularly in only one or two forms of gambling. The study concluded that some forms of gambling are more closely associated with problem gambling than other forms, and that gambling policy and regulation, as well as the development of responsible gambling initiatives, should focus on these forms.     

Problem gambling and property offences: an analysis of court files

This article outlines some of the major findings regarding criminogenic problem gambling in Crofts' (2002) analysis of New South Wales Local and District Court files. The article details firstly the advantages and disadvantages of relying upon court files as a source of information on gambling related crime. The article then outlines the personal characteristics of the subjects in the study, the relationship of gambling to the commission of their offences and judicial responses. The study provided qualitative information on when people are likely to seek treatment for problem gambling and also highlighted problem gambling as a significant motivation for employee theft. The study also suggests that the reasons for problem gambling may impact upon offending patterns.     

Behaviour change strategies for problem gambling: an analysis of online posts

Reducing or quitting problematic gambling often requires implementing a variety of behaviour change strategies, but there is limited evidence regarding the breadth of specific strategies that gamblers use to control or limit gambling behaviours. This study aimed to identify the range of change strategies reported by gamblers in a naturalistic setting (i.e. two online forums for problem gambling). A total of 2937 change strategies were extracted from online posts (N = 1370). Content analysis identified 27 discrete change strategies that were pre-decisional (i.e. barriers – behavioural and psychological, decisional balance, realization – behaviour and cognitions, set reasons to change, seek knowledge and information, self-assessment), pre-actional (i.e. action planning, commitment, goal setting), actional (i.e. alternative activity, behavioural substitution, avoidance – abstinence, environment and financial, consumption control, maintain readiness, reinforcement, urge management, cognitive restructuring, seek inspiration, self-monitoring and spiritual) and multi-phased (i.e. external support, social support and well-being). This study suggests the breadth and depth of change strategies are far more complex than previously reported. Future research with a broader population needs to determine which change strategies are most effective for those experiencing different levels of gambling problems.     

The Gambling Motives Questionnaire financial: factor structure,measurement invariance,and relationships with gambling behaviour

Items assessing financial motives were recently integrated with the Gambling Motives Questionnaire (GMQ), resulting in a revised measure that assesses coping, enhancement, social and financial motives for gambling (GMQ-F). The aim of this research was to test the proposed four-factor structure of the GMQ-F, determine if GMQ-F responses were invariant across sex, and test a structural model that specifies links between motives, gambling frequency and problem gambling severity. Telephone surveys were conducted with 932 adult gamblers from across Manitoba, Canada, who responded to items from the GMQ-F and reported their frequency of gambling and levels of problem gambling severity. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded strong support for the four-factor structure of GMQ-F scores, and invariance testing provided evidence of measurement invariance across sex. Finally, support was found for the hypothesized structural model in which each gambling motive predicted gambling frequency, which in turn predicted problem gambling severity. Coping motives also directly predicted problem gambling severity. These results provide strong evidence in support of the validity of GMQ-F responses, offer further support for the integration of financial motives with the GMQ, and delineate relationships between gambling motives, gambling frequency and gambling-related harm.     

Pre-commitment in gambling: a review of the empirical evidence

Norway, a Canadian province and Australia have introduced, or are considering introducing, voluntary or mandatory pre-commitment systems for electronic gaming machines. This paper critically reviews the empirical literature evaluating the effectiveness of such systems as a responsible gambling strategy. A literature search identified 17 relevant peer- and non-peer-reviewed publications. Self-report data suggests the majority of gamblers are positively predisposed to the concept of pre-commitment but non-problem and low-risk gamblers regard the system as personally unnecessary. Overall, studies reported variable findings relating to adherence to money limits and expenditure. Few gamblers appear to use options to set time limits. Methodological flaws such as low participation rates, compromised data integrity resulting from card sharing and failure to control for concurrent gambling outside trials limit conclusions drawn regarding the effectiveness of pre-commitment. It is recommended that further systematic trials should be implemented to determine the impact of pre-commitment systems on gamblers' behaviour.     

The temporal relationship between gambling related beliefs and gambling behaviour: a prospective study using the theory of planned behaviour

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has been successfully employed to investigate the role of gambling-related beliefs in the maintenance of gambling behaviour. However, there is a lack of research that examines the temporal relationships between the TPB predictor variables and gambling behaviour. Thus, the current study examines the utility of expectancies, normative beliefs, perceived behaviour control and gambling intentions in predicting gambling frequency, as assessed 12 months later. In addition, these gambling-related beliefs were reassessed at the 12-month follow-up survey to examine their stability and relationships with gambling behaviour. A total of 805 Australian adults, recruited via an online research panel, completed the baseline and follow-up online survey. Consistent with expectations, gambling-related beliefs explained gambling intentions and intentions predicted Wave 2 gambling frequency, after controlling Wave 1 gambling frequency. In relation to the stability of gambling-related beliefs, the Wave 2 measures explained additional variance in the Wave 2 gambling behaviour, although the type of beliefs associated with Wave 2 gambling frequency and problem gambling severity differed. These findings provide support for the notion that the perceived benefits of gambling and beliefs in skill are important areas to target in preventative and problem gambling initiatives.     

Loyalty programmes in the gambling industry: potentials for harm and possibilities for harm-minimization

The field of gambling studies has been remarkably silent on loyalty programmes in the gambling industry. This article reviews the scant empirical literature, with an aim to stimulate discussion and research about the impact of loyalty programme membership on players. Preliminary evidence suggests that disordered gamblers are more apt to join a loyalty programme and be disproportionately rewarded (due to the amount of money they spend gambling) relative to recreational and at-risk gamblers. As such, loyalty programmes in the gambling industry may generate harms in vulnerable individuals. However, loyalty programmes may also be well positioned to facilitate harm-minimization by promoting behavioural tracking that is collected on every member – information that can be provided to players to advance responsible gambling. Additionally, members could be rewarded for engagement with responsible gambling tools, which may increase the currently low rate of tool use. That said, structuring loyalty programmes to reward the use of responsible gambling instruments with time on device or even non-monetary prizes may be incompatible with harm-minimization efforts. There exists a need for empirical research on the antecedents and consequences of loyalty programme membership as well as the possibility that loyalty programmes have some responsibility gambling utility.     

Me,myself and money: having a financially focused self-concept and its consequences for disordered gambling

The article describes a test of the hypothesis that some people’s self-concept is overly focused on financial success and that this focus contributes to disordered gambling. Study 1 reported on the development and validation of the Financially Focused Scale (FFS) with a sample of community gamblers (N = 197). As predicted, participants whose self-concept was financially focused attached greater importance to the money they possess as a domain of self-worth. They also indicated that the money they possess is a more important domain of self-worth relative to other life domains. Importantly, greater financial focus was a positive predictor of disordered gambling severity and did so over and above other known predictors of disordered gambling severity (i.e. personal income, Big-Five personality domains, global self-esteem, personal relative deprivation and materialism). Study 2 (N = 220) replicated and extended the findings of Study 1 by examining the motivational mechanisms that may link being financially focused with disordered gambling severity. As hypothesized, monetary gambling motives mediated the relationship between participants’ FFS scores and disordered gambling severity. Having a financially focused self-concept may play a critical role in the development and maintenance of disordered gambling. Addressing this self-concept in treatment may help alleviate gambling disorder.     

Prevention programmes for youth gambling: a review of the empirical evidence

This paper critically reviews the existing literature on the effectiveness of gambling prevention programmes for youth. Two categories of preventive strategies, all universal and most school-based, are presented: gambling-specific prevention programmes and gambling and related skills workshops. The age of the participants across the different studies varied from 9 to 20 years. Results show that programmes in both categories are generally effective in reducing misconceptions and increasing knowledge about gambling. However, a lack of long-term follow-ups and of behavioural measures makes it difficult to draw any clear conclusions about the effectiveness of such programmes. Recommendations are presented to improve the development and evaluation of future prevention programmes for youth gambling.     

Risk of gambling disorder based on participation level for the Japanese gambling games of pachinko and pachislot: a preliminary study

It has been reported that Japan may have many disordered pachinko/pachislot players, and taking some countermeasures is required. This study proposes high-risk limits, an index developed by employing a calculating method of low-risk limits to identify disordered players and to contribute to the development of countermeasures. High-risk limits can be established by gambling disorder scale items and participation levels measured in a population survey. The study preliminarily examined how different high-risk limits could be established by using three commonly used scales: SOGS, PGSI and DSM-5. The sample comprised 522 registered panel members for a web survey company, who lived in the Tokyo metropolitan area and played pachinko/pachislot in the last year. They answered items on three gambling disorder scales and four types of participation, such as average monthly loss. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that the three scales had same optimal limits for high-risk participation: average monthly loss of 20,000–50,000 JPY and the average monthly loss/yearly household income of 0.003-0.005. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that high-risk participation predicted the disorder irrespective of demographics. The results of this study suggested that high-risk limits can be established using the disorder scales commonly used in prevalence surveys.     

A definition and set of principles for responsible consumption of gambling

Responsible consumption of gambling (RCG) is now a major paradigm driving industry, government and public health measures that aim to prevent or minimize gambling-related harm. This is reflected in the pervasive message to ‘gamble responsibly’. However, few attempts have been made to define the concept or identify its foundation principles, resulting in substantial ambiguity over what RCG means and its essential characteristics. This study addresses this void by synthesizing findings from a systematic literature review, website analysis and online survey of 107 experts – to develop a set of underlying principles and a definition of RCG. These tasks were facilitated by the reasonably consistent principles found to underpin RCG in the three data sources, despite wide variations in how the construct has previously been defined. Thus, the set of principles of RCG developed in this study (affordability, balance, informed choice, control, enjoyment, harm-free) should attract wide acceptance, as should the definition given that it combines and summarizes these principles. Adopting a consistent definition and set of RCG principles will provide a basis for developing consistent guidelines for consumers, offer direction for public health efforts for gambling harm minimization, and inform government policies and industry measures aiming to support safe gambling.     

An exploratory study of alcohol dependence and problem gambling co-development trajectories in young adults

This study examines whether there are multiple trajectories of alcohol dependence and problem gambling symptom co-occurrence in a sample (n = 679) of emerging adults. Six joint trajectory classes were identified and several baseline risk factors were associated with increased probability of being in more problematic joint trajectory classes relative to the low-risk normative class. There was no joint trajectory class characterized by both higher problem gambling risk and persistent high alcohol dependence, suggesting that alcohol dependence and problem gambling are not directly related but perhaps share common underlying causes. Contrary to this, though, none of the examined risk factors were common to both more problematic gambling and drinking trajectories. Overall, the findings (which should be considered exploratory due to small class sizes) suggest the co-development of alcohol and gambling is not uniform across all young adults, and that the reciprocal nature of this relationship in adulthood may not solidify until later in young adulthood. Future research should re-examine these findings with a larger sample, spanning further into adulthood, with additional risk factors.     

Comparing the effectiveness of behavioral interventions in adults with co-occurring tobacco and substance use disorders: a systematic review of literature

ABSTRACT

This systematic literature review compares the e?ectiveness of various behavioral interventions delivered to persons with co-occurring tobacco and substance use disorders. It examines ?ndings of six randomized trials and three secondary analyses from randomized trials. Based on the ?ndings of this literature review, support is given to the following: (1) The consequences of tobacco use and smoking are deadly, costly, and can have an inhibitory e?ect on the progress of people in substance abuse treatment, (2) tobacco cessation options are a preventive intervention that can be easily incorporated into a treatment facility’s standard of practice and should be made available within the context of all substance abuse treatment facilities, and (3) concurrently treating tobacco use disorder and substance use disorder(s) is an e?ort that will help meet the social work profession’s Grand Challenge to ‘Close the Health Gap.’     

Passion for poker and the relationship with gambling problems: a cross-sectional study

Previous research has shown that poker players spend significant time, large amounts of money and have a high prevalence of gambling problems. While some studies have examined the association between gambling behaviours and passion, none have explored this association specifically among poker players. This study aims to examine the relationships between two types of passion (i.e. harmonious and obsessive) and severity of gambling problems among poker players. A sample of 159 poker players was recruited from across Quebec, Canada. The outcome variable of interest was participants’ scores on the Canadian Pathological Gambling Index and the predictive variable was the Gambling Passion Scale. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent risk factors of at-risk poker players. Severity of gambling problems is positively associated with obsessive passion (p < .05). However, harmonious passion is not associated with gambling problems. These results align with previous findings obtained for other gambling activities. Thus, passion could be considered a useful tool when approaching players to talk about risk-taking.     

Adolescent gambling and problem gambling: examination of an extended theory of planned behaviour

Adolescent problem gambling is acknowledged as a public health concern. To better understand adolescent gambling and problem gambling behaviour, the present study investigated the relationships between psychological correlates of gambling frequency and problem gambling using an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB; i.e. intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, perceptions of behavioural control) that includes negative anticipated emotions as a factor associated with gambling intentions. Four hundred and nineteen high school students were surveyed in the Montreal (Canada) region. The findings generally support the applicability of an extended TPB model for explaining gambling behaviour frequency and gambling problems among adolescents. The results reveal that negative anticipated emotions, attitudes and perceptions of behavioural control influence gambling intentions. The results further reveal that intentions and attitudes have a direct relationship with gambling frequency, while intentions and perceptions of behavioural control are directly related to problem gambling behaviours. These findings suggest that adolescent problem gambling prevention and intervention efforts should consider targeting negative anticipated emotions and other TPB components in order to postpone initiation to gambling (a risk factor for problem gambling) and to promote gambling decision-making.