cognitive distortions as a major risk factor in online gambling terri-lynn mackay addictive...
TRANSCRIPT
Cognitive Distortions as a Major Risk Factor in Online Gambling
Terri-Lynn MacKayAddictive Behaviours Laboratory, University of Calgary
PrevalenceGeneral Canada-1.5-3.1% (2007) US-4% (2006) UK-7.2% (2006), 8.8% (2007), 9.7% (2008), 10.6%
(2009).
Among sub-populations Guest entering a US casino-36.5% Undergraduate US-23% Undergraduate UK-22%
Problem Gambling Internet gamblers are more likely to be problem
gamblers (Griffiths & Barnes, 2008; Griffiths, Parke, Wood & Rigby, 2009; Griffiths, Wardle,
Orford, Sproston & Erens, 2009; Ladd & Petry, 2002; McBride & Derevenski, 2008; Petry, 2006; Petry &
Weinstock, 2007; Wood & Williams, 2007, Wood & Williams, 2009) Why?
Characteristics of the Internet? People that gamble online possess a number of
general risk factors for problem gambling?
Why gamble online?
Accessibility, convenience, event frequency, money value, and demonstration games (Griffiths).
Primary reasons individuals reported for preferring online gaming over land-based gaming were because of the convenience, ease, comfort, accessibility and privacy (Wood, Williams, & Lawton, 2007).
Main reasons reported for gambling online were convenience, entertainment, comfort, accessibility, monetary incentive, anonymity and privacy (American Gaming Association, 2006)
Risk factors for online gambling(empirical findings)
Being male and younger Scoring lower on general health measures
(mental and physical) Drinking at least twice the recommended
amount in one day
Main Research Questions
What makes online players more susceptible to problems?
Do online gamblers initiate via the Internet or are they land-based gamblers?
What factors contribute to problems among online gamblers?
Sample, method, analysis 377 undergraduates (46% male) Completed online questionnaire 38.7% online gamblers Significant univariate analyzed via logistic regression Multiple regression analysisfor problem gambling level among online gamblers
Domain Risk Factor Instrument
Demographic Age (younger) CPGI
Gender CPGI
Ethnicity (Asian) Statistics Canada
Academic GPA
Problem Gambling Severity (higher) CPGI
Medium related Frequency (higher) CPGI
Expenditures (higher) CPGI
Age of onset CPGI
Early wins (yes) CPGI
Cognitive Distortions (higher) Gambler’s Beliefs
Erroneous beliefs (higher)
Gambling Fallacies Scale
Concurrent Alcohol abuse AUDIT
Drug use DAST
Depression BDI
Anxiety Leibowitz Anxiety Scale
Impulsivity Barratt Impulsivity Scale
Results
Internet gamblers are primarily land-based gamblers who are also using an online medium.
The most significant predictors of online gambling are the number of activities (particularly land-based) and cognitive distortions.
Cognitive distortions predict severity above and beyond medium related variables.
Results (for those who like stats..) The full model correctly classified 76% of gamblers
(84% land-based, 63% online). Two variables made independent contributions: number
of gambling activities and cognitive distortions. Only 3% of online gamblers began by gambling on the
Internet and 13% started both at the same age. When problem gambling severity was analyzed for
Internet gamblers with a multiple regression analysis in blocks: demographics (1) , play variables (2), cognitive distortions (3) the final model was significant.
Next Steps…
Collaboration between the U of A Poker Research Group.
Looking at skill vs. luck component of poker.
Are online players really distorting?
BURNING QUESTIONS?