Never Smile at a Crocodile: Betting on Electronic Gaming Machines is Intensified by Reptile-Induced Arousal |
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Authors: | Matthew J Rockloff Nancy Greer |
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Institution: | (1) Institute for Health and Social Science Research, CQUniversity, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia |
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Abstract: | Tourists at the Koorana Saltwater Crocodile Farm in Coowonga, Queensland, Australia, including 62 males and 41 females, aged
18–66 (M = 34.2, SD = 13.3), were randomly assigned to play a laptop-simulated Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) either: (1) prior to
entry, or (2) after having held a 1-m saltwater-crocodile. Gambling behavior; including bet-size, speed of betting, final
payouts and trials played on the EGM; was investigated with respect to participants’ assigned arousal condition, problem-gambling
status, and affective state. At-risk gamblers with few self-reported negative emotions placed higher average bets at the EGM after having held the crocodile when compared to the control. In contrast, at-risk gamblers with
many self-reported negative emotions placed lower average bets at the EGM after having held the crocodile. The results suggest that high arousal can intensify gambling in
at-risk players, but only if this feeling state is not perceived as a negative emotion. |
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