Journal of Gambling Studies

Whilst opportunities to participate in gambling have increased, access to support for problem gamblers is lacking behind. This lack of balance calls for improved and accessible intervention methods. The present double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) explored the effectiveness of two interventions targeting automatic cognitive processes, known as Attentional Bias Modification (AtBM) and Approach Bias Modification (ApBM). It was hypothesized these interventions would reduce gambling behavior and reduce or reverse targeted biases...

Problem lottery gambling among lottery consumers has increased globally over the years, rendering it necessary to explore their financial literacy characteristics and to answer whether financial literacy inhibits problem lottery gambling. In the present research, a total of 316 Chinese lottery consumers, who constitute the culturally underrepresented samples in the extant literature, completed a survey about financial literacy and problem lottery gambling. Using the propensity score matching method, we compared financial literacy between Chinese lottery consumers and Chinese general population (N = 10,058)...

To be effective in the prevention of adolescent problem gambling, it is fundamental to enhance knowledge about the antecedents of gambling problem severity and the mechanisms through which these dimensions are related to problematic gambling behavior. This study aimed at testing how selected cognitive (correct knowledge of gambling and gambling-related cognitive distortions) and affective (positive economic perception of gambling and expectation and enjoyment and arousal towards gambling) variables are related to gambling frequency and gambling problem severity...

Little is known about the prevalence of problem gambling among sexual minority individuals. The present study utilized an epidemiological sample, including individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, and pansexual, to explore gambling behavior and problems and associated mental health and comorbid conditions that may contribute to elevated risk. Bivariate comparisons found that sexual minority individuals had higher rates of problem gambling, alcohol and substance use problems, anxiety, depression, and a wide range of problem behaviors (e...

In recent decades, internet gambling has seen strong growth and diffusion due to intrinsic characteristics that make it particularly attractive to players (accessibility, anonymity, variety of games). This paper aims to present the current state of knowledge of the risk and protective factors of online gambling. A literature search conducted in the PubMed, PsychInfo, and Scopus databases found 42 articles, which were included in the review. Methodological aspects and risk and protective factors were analysed cross-sectionally...

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)...

A large body of previous research has provided support for the role of attentional bias as a maintaining factor in addiction. This systematic review aimed to investigate the extent and nature of attentional bias as a phenomenon which exists within problem gamblers. Studies were identified through searches of three databases (MedLine, PSYCHINFO, and Web of Science) and examination of the reference lists of the final studies meeting criteria for inclusion. The scope of the review included empirical studies making experimental comparisons of problem gamblers and non-problem gamblers across a range of attentional paradigms...

The focus of this research is to understand the sports gambling intentions of Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) that can potentially lead to problematic gambling behavior. Rooted in the theory of planned behavior, the study delves into the roles of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control in shaping these intentions. A cross-sectional study of 513 Gen Z's in the United States was conducted. The partial least square structural equation modeling was used to analyze the relationship and compare the differences between males and females with multigroup analysis...

Gambling as a youth is a risk factor for experiencing gambling-related harm as an adult. Most youth gambling research focuses on illegal engagement with age-restricted products, but youth can also gamble legally, by for example betting with friends, or via coin pusher and crane grab machines. Research has associated recollected rates of usage of these machines as a child with adult gambling participation and problems, but only in the UK and Australia, and has not tested for robustness to subjective confidence...

The rise of online gambling has drawn attention towards offshore gambling. Currently there is lack of evidence on reasons and motivations to gamble on offshore gambling sites. This study investigated the general gambling motives of onshore and offshore gamblers, and the reasons to gamble on offshore gambling sites. The study used binary logistic regression model to analyze the data from Finnish Gambling 2019 population survey including adult past-year online gamblers (n = 1,422). The validated measure for problem gambling severity (PGSI, Problem Gambling Severity Index) was used...

This paper extends our understanding of how casino patrons are affected by COVID-19 restrictions and how they cope by substituting gambling with alcohol consumption. We conducted two studies using a nationwide survey sample collected in Australia during the pandemic lockdown. Study 1 compares the casino patrons with two reference groups (other gambling patrons and non-gambling individuals) and investigates the lockdown restrictions on respondents' relational strength, and their potential impact on mental health and future prospects...

This study examined associations between recreational gambling (RG) and at-risk/problem gambling (ARPG), and clinical measures of mental illness and substance use, functionality, homelessness, in a nationally representative sample of U.S. military veterans. Data were analyzed from 781 veterans who participated National Veteran Homeless and Other Poverty Experiences (NV-HOPE) study conducted in 2021. Chi-square tests, analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and logistic regressions analyses were conducted to examine unadjusted and adjusted associations between gambling group status and sociodemographic, psychiatric, substance use, functioning, and homelessness measures...

The purpose of the eSMILE study was to explore social cognition (SC) in the two behavioural addictions (BAs) included in international classifications: gaming disorder and gambling disorder. In these disorders, cognitive functioning is involved in the development and maintenance of addiction. Nevertheless, SC have received less attention than other cognitive functions. The eSMILE study was conducted online and included 105 participants (gamers and gamblers). This study included: the Penn emotion recognition task, the Condensed and Revised Multifaced Empathy Test, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, the Chicken Game, social metacognition questions, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale...

Esports gambling has steadily grown in popularity alongside esports itself. While research has been increasing in the field of esports-related gambling, no study has yet reviewed the relevant literature on esports gambling. The present study aimed to comprehensively review all empirical research conducted in the wider field of esports gambling. A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was undertaken using PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases...

A growing body of research indicates differences between men and women with gambling disorder. However, although alexithymia, gambling motives or abandonment have been associated with GD, women's clinical profile remains unexplored. This study aims, firstly, to explore mean differences in gambling motives (i.e. enhancement, coping and social [SOC]), the early maladaptive abandonment schema, alexithymia and depression in women and men with GD. Secondly, to analyse the correlation between the aforementioned variables as a function of sex...

This study aims to verify the relationship between social isolation, cultural adaptation, and gambling addiction tendency among Korean Chinese sports club participants living in Korea. This will be helpful in identifying the sports gambling tendencies of Korean Chinese sports club participants living in Korea and provide basic data for the development and implementation of preventive measures and treatments. This study recruited 340 sports club participants in Seoul and Incheon, Gyeonggi province in South Korea, using a convenience sampling method...

Gamblers enrolled in the Swiss Multi-Venue Exclusion Program completed a written questionnaire three times, at six-month intervals. In addition to sociodemographic information, they provided details of their gambling behavior, and completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised (SOGS-R). The excluded gamblers were compared to a control group of non-excluded gamblers who also completed the questionnaire. The baseline survey demonstrated that there was a significant association between gamblers status (excluded n = 87 and non-excluded n = 259) and income (p = ...

Over the last few years, gambling has diversified, particularly with the arrival of legislation authorizing online gambling in 2010 in France. Psychology has been very interested in emotional regulation strategies, and more recently and more sparsely in the presence of shame and guilt. Through an observational study (N = 1955) shame, guilt, and emotional regulation were assessed among gamblers. We found that (i) Less guilt is associated with problem gambling, (ii) Shame-proneness is similar regardless of the type of gamblers, (iii) Every facet of emotion regulation indicates less effective strategies for problem gamblers excepted for a behavior oriented to a goal...

Just-In-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) are emerging "push" mHealth interventions that provide the right type, timing, and amount of support to address the dynamically-changing needs for each individual. Although JITAIs are well-suited to the delivery of interventions for the addictions, few are available to support gambling behaviour change. We therefore developed GamblingLess: In-The-Moment and Gambling Habit Hacker, two smartphone-delivered JITAIs that differ with respect to their target populations, theoretical underpinnings, and decision rules...

Studies involving the analysis of objective data from online operators attempt to address common concerns about biases in self-report research. This paper surveys the progress in this area of research over the last 15 years. The findings highlight many areas of achievement, including: the development of a set of behavioural markers that reliably differentiate variations in gambler risk. Online gamblers can be grouped into clusters based on the intensity and frequency of gambling; behavioural variability; or, signs of over-commitment (e...