Journal of Gambling Studies最新文献

Most epidemiological surveys focus on adult gambling behaviors related to traditional gambling forms, while studies on novel forms often focus on loot boxes and cryptocurrency trading individually. This study examines the co-ocurrence of emergent gambling and gambling-like practices, analyzing the demographic and psychological characteristics of involved gamblers. A cross-sectional study surveyed 1429 Spanish individuals aged 18-65, using a web-based questionnaire. The survey assessed participation in 19 gambling (e.g., lotteries, sports betting) and gambling-like activities (e.g., trading of cryptocurrencies and other assets, buying loot-boxes), along with sociodemographic and substance use. Problem gambling (PGSI), Impulsivity (UPPS-P), and cognitive distortions (Labrador's cognitive distortions scale) were also assessed. Participants who gambled over the past year (n = 921) were classified into four groups: traditional gambling (TG) only (64.5%, n = 594), TG with trading activities (27.5%, n = 253), TG with gambling withing video games or streaming platforms (2.5%, n = 23), and TG with both trading and video gambling (5.5%, n = 51). Most gamblers engaged exclusively in traditional formats, but 35.5% also participated in novel gambling forms. Those involved in both trading and video gambling were generally younger, male, with higher levels of impulsivity and gambling-related cognitive distortions compared to TG-only gamblers (p < 0.001). This group also exhibited higher rates of problem gambling and substance use (p < 0.001). This study emphasize the importance of including emerging gambling activities, which are particularly prevalent among high-risk gamblers, in epidemiological surveys. Identifying new gambling patterns and associated risk factors could help optimize public policies and develop more effective regulatory and prevention strategies.

Gambling is becoming increasingly frequent among the French population, which has led to an increased number of individuals exhibiting problematic gambling patterns. Studies have found links between narcissism and cognitive distortions in relation to problem gambling, specifically among strategic gamblers, but none has tested perceived personal luck as one type of cognitive distortion in this regard. This study's purpose was to explore the relationship between narcissism, perceived personal luck and problem gambling among strategic gamblers, and to test for the mediating role of perceived personal luck in the relationship between narcissism and problem gambling. A total of 88 regular strategic gamblers were included (mean age = 37.8), with 49 non-problematic gamblers and 39 problematic gamblers. Participants completed the Problematic Gambling Severity Index, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, and the Personal Luck Usage Scale. Results showed a significant relationship between narcissism and problem gambling, but no significant link between perceived personal luck and problem gambling and no significant mediation effect of perceived personal luck. These results may indicate a strong perception of personal skills compared to a weak perception of personal luck among problem gamblers of strategic games. This study emphasizes the importance of addressing types of gambling and types of cognitive distortions when investigating problem gambling.

Lower-risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGGs) were developed in Canada to reduce the risk of gambling-related harm. The LRGGs, published in 2021, consist of three limits: gamble no more than 1% of household income per month; gamble no more than four days per month; and avoid regularly gambling at more than two types of games. All three limits should be followed at the same time. This study focuses on the situation in Finland before the LRGGs were published. The aim of this study is to investigate trends in lower-risk gambling by age and net income among men and women in the Finnish adult population in 2011, 2015, and 2019. Data were drawn from cross-sectional Finnish Gambling population surveys, including permanent residents in Mainland Finland aged 15-74 with Finnish, Swedish or Sámi as their mother tongue (2011; n = 4,484, 2015; n = 4,515, and 2019; n = 3,994). The results showed an increase in the prevalence of lower-risk gambling, rising from 29% in 2011 to 39% in 2019. This upward trend was observed among both men and women, with the prevalence among men increasing from 23 to 33%, and among women from 34 to 45%. The lowest prevalence of lower-risk gambling was found among individuals aged 60-74, especially regarding expenditure guidelines, as well as among women in the lowest income tertile. In conclusion, although the prevalence of lower-risk gambling has increased in Finland, there is still potential for further improvement to minimize harm.

Online gamblers are more likely to experience gambling problems. The main objective was to compare the frequency of recovery one (middle-term) and two (long-term) years after treatment initiation, according to the gambling medium (Internet vs. land-based gambling). The secondary objectives were (i) to compare online and offline gamblers at inclusion and (ii) to investigate whether the gambling medium was a predictive factor of recovery. Outpatients beginning treatment for a GD (n = 237) were assessed at inclusion (treatment initiation) and after 1 and 2 years. Bivariate analyses were performed to compare online and offline gamblers at inclusion and on the frequency of recovery at one and two years. Two multivariate logistic regressions were then performed to identify factors associated with middle- and long-term recovery. The majority of patients achieved middle (74.2%) and long-term (78.9%) recovery, with no difference between online and offline gamblers. The gambling medium was not a predictive factor of recovery. Patients with a higher perceived self-efficacy (OR = 1.04 [1.01–1.07], p = .046) and having no history of mood disorders (OR = 11.18 [2.53–49.50], p < .001) at inclusion were more likely to achieve middle-term recovery, while long-term recovery was associated with a lower level of sensation seeking (OR = 0.67 [0.48–0.92], p = .015) at treatment initiation. Online gambling did not seem to influence middle- and long-term recovery compared to offline gambling. Enhancement of perceived self-efficacy and treatment of mood disorders, and treatment strategies focused on sensation-seeking may represent helpful care strategies for favouring achievement of middle-term recovery and maintenance of long-term recovery, respectively. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01248767, date of first registration: November 25, 2010.

Older adults are receiving increased attention in gambling research, in part because gambling and related problems appear to be increasing in this population. To date, little or no research has examined the complexities of gambling and later-life circumstances, including life events, and individual and social factors. This study utilized longitudinal data (5 waves) from older adults (60 + ; N = 670) in the Quinte Longitudinal Study (Williams et al., in: The Quinte longitudinal study of gambling and problem gambling 2006-2011, Bay of Quinte region, Ontario, 2014). Longitudinal multilevel models examined between- and within-person effects of stressful life events on gambling frequency and Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) scores, and the possible moderating role of individual (age, gender, mental health, physical health) and social variables (marital status, social support) on this relationship. Results of the final model showed significant effects (p < .01) for linear time (PGSI scores declined across waves; β = - .06); gender (women's mean PGSI greater than men's; γ = .26); social support (less support associated with greater PGSI; γ = .05); and an interaction between age and stressful life events (effect of stressful events on PGSI is lesser with greater age; γ = - .02). Simple slopes (at mean age of 66 at wave 1, and ± 1SD) showed that at 61 (γ = .35) and 66 years (γ = .23), mean PGSI scores were greater with each additional stressful life event; there was no significant effect for stressful events at age 71. These findings suggest women, those with less social support, and greater stressful life events may be at greater risk of problem gambling, while greater age weakens the effect of stressful events and problem gambling.

Casino gaming is considered as an entertainment but it may cause financial and psychological burdens to some individuals and their families. Therefore, casino operators have established and deployed responsible gaming policy and practice to mitigate such negative effects. This study explores whether and how responsible gaming policy and practice influences people's casino gaming intention and behavior. Data were collected from 644 Chinese adults in Macao. Results showed that responsible gaming policy and practice significantly influenced people's attitude towards casino gaming (as a legal activity and hobby), subjective norm (for disapproval of casino gaming), and perceived behavior control (for not engaging in casino gaming). Casino gaming intention was positively affected by attitude and negatively affected by subjective norm and perceived behavior control. Casino gaming behavior was positively affected by intention and negatively affected by perceived behavior control. As a whole, responsible gaming policy and practice had a small, negative but significant indirect effect on casino gaming behavior. Implications of the study were given.

The increasing availability of gambling opportunities worldwide has the potential to impact youth gambling behavior and the prevalence of gambling-related harm. This paper studies whether starting gambling at an early age (i.e., below the minimum legal gambling age) increases an individual's likelihood of suffering some kind of gambling-related harm in the future. Data taken from the Study on the Prevalence, Behavior and Characteristics of Gamblers in Spain provide information on respondents' gambling starting age and assess gambling risk based on criteria established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Estimates from an ordered probit model suggest that starting to gamble while under the minimum legal age is associated with a higher likelihood of problem gambling.

The study addresses the question whether professional gamblers can be considered an occupational group from a sociological perspective. It combines survey data on poker players from the German state North Rhine-Westphalia with sociological theory in order to explain the oxymoron of professional gambling. The descriptive analysis of the survey data is supplemented by ego-centric network data of the poker players to analyze whether hobby and professional players maintain different forms of social relationships. Even when semiprofessionals and professional players are grouped together for the purpose of comparative analysis, they fulfill the criteria of occupational groups according to Salaman's major work on the topic. The study points to the fact that more research on occupational groups outside of the common fields is needed and bridges the gap between the literature on serious leisure and sociological research on professions and professionalization.

Background: This study examined the association between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Gambling Severity (gambling severity), considering the mediating roles of internalizing, externalizing, and attention among youth online gamblers.

Methods: 762 youth (age_mean±SD= 15.03 ± 2.40; age_range = 10-18 years; 75.3% boys) completed the Persian Gambling Disorder Screening Questionnaire (GDSQ-P), Pediatric Symptom Checklist - Youth Report (Y-PSC), and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Questionnaire (ACE's section, modified by authors). The analysis was done using the SMART PLS software.

Results: The reliability and discriminant validity of the provided model were assessed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). According to the results of the PLS-SEM analysis, the present model demonstrated suitable levels of reliability and validity. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) significantly affected attention, internalizing, externalizing problems, and gambling severity. Additionally, the level of gambling was directly correlated with ACEs. Moreover, the indirect influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable via the mediators was found to be statistically significant (P < .001).These findings suggest that externalizing behaviors, attention problems, and internalizing symptoms mediate the effect of ACEs on gambling severity. Lastly, fitness indices indicated that our proposed model fit the data well (SRMR = 0.06, d_ULS = 1.15, Chi-square = 1291.461, and NFI = 0.71).

Conclusion: Our study found that ACEs significantly influence gambling severity among youth online gamblers, with internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems mediating this relationship. Practical implications include integrating ACE screening and targeted interventions for associated mental health issues into youth gambling prevention programs to mitigate the risk of problematic gambling behavior.

Games for mobiles present strategies to monetize not only from selling a title but from financial exchanges that take place in the game. Those microtransactions motivate players to purchase random or surprise items (known as loot boxes) to customize game features or to overcome narrative obstacles necessary to progress to new levels. Researchers associate the practice with gambling if completing the transaction does not mean the acquisition of an item but the chance to receive it. This research quantified gambling-like features in games available for free, classified by Apple's marketplace as suitable for children from 4 to 8 years old, and from the top-downloaded list. The findings reveal normalization traces of chance-based mechanisms in most of the games. According to the research literature, early exposure to such features may result in problem gambling in adult life. This paper concluded that legal changes and more information provided by the marketplaces are needed to raise awareness of gambling-like practices in mobile games.