Estimating Customer Lifetime Value in the Gaming Industry Using Incomplete Data

We were asked by Innovation Embassy to work with a large dataset centred around gambling investment, with the task of making a predictive function for computing Customer Lifetime Value (CLV), and also to see if there are ways of detecting fraudulent financial practices and addictive gambling patterns. We had moderate success with the data as it stands, but we were partly held back for two main reasons: the ability to discern a solid definition of CLV due to highly inconsistent data and data that contained many large and incomputable gaps. Different machine learning algorithms were used to find CLV functions based on key variables. We also describe a short and explicit list of ways where the base data can be improved to support effective calculation of CLV. Our key findings suggest that the average customer's CLV is 1035 and ~80% of revenue is brought in from ~10% of the clients.

Changes of Gambling Patterns during COVID-19 in Sweden, and Potential for Preventive Policy Changes. A Second Look Nine Months into the Pandemic

Gambling has been suggested as one of the potential mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In earlier self-report studies, increased gambling has been reported by a limited proportion of respondents characterized with a high degree of problem gambling. The present study, carried out with the same methodology and in the same geographical setting, around seven months later in the pandemic, aimed to repeat and to extend the understanding of potential gambling changes in the population during COVID-19. An anonymous sample of web panel members was assessed, altogether 2029 individuals (52% women, 10% moderate-risk or problem gamblers). Results indicated that 6% reported increased gambling, and 4% reported decreased gambling during the pandemic. Having increased gambling was associated with more severe gambling problems (OR 2.78, 95% confidence interval 2.27–3.40), increased alcohol consumption (OR 2.92, 1.71–4.98), and psychological distress (OR 3.38, 1.83–6.23). In the group reporting increased gambling during COVID-19, moderate-risk/problem gambling was very common (62%). Recent governmental policy interventions in the area were known to a minority (30%) of respondents, but awareness of the regulations was markedly more common in individuals with at least moderate-risk gambling (56%) and in self-excluders (78%). Reporting of any perceived influence from policy changes was low (3%), and divided between those reporting an increasing and decreasing effect, respectively. Increased gambling may be a consequence of COVID-19-related changes in everyday lives of individuals with problematic gambling patterns. Thus, a vulnerable group demonstrates higher rates of gambling migration and psychosocial problems, and may require particular attention in screening and treatment contexts, and further scientific evaluations.

Gambling patterns and associated risk and protective factors among Finnish young people

Background and aims: In recent years online gambling has become a potential risk for young people. The purpose of this study was to analyse patterns of gambling activities and their association with behavioural risk factors and protective factors. Data and Method: A demographically balanced sample of Finnish respondents aged 15–25 years ( N = 1200) filled out an online survey in March–April 2017. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the variables on gambling activities to smaller sets of components, and regression analysis was used to analyse whether behavioural risk factors and protective factors were associated with the gambling patterns found. Results: Two main components were found: online- and skill-based competent gambling and chance-based entertainment gambling. Competent gambling had statistically significant associations with a variety of behavioural problems and risks, including psychological distress, lower social support, lower delay of gratification, hazardous drinking, regular drug use, compulsive Internet use, and problem gambling. Entertainment gambling was associated with lower delay gratification, hazardous drinking, and problem gambling. Entertainment gambling had a negative association with compulsive Internet use and a positive association with social support. Conclusions: Online-based competent gambling is a potentially hazardous form of gambling. New forms of online gambling are potential risks for younger generations. Health professionals working with young people should be aware of the role of online gambling and associated activities.

The prevalence of problem gambling and gambling-related behaviours among older adults in Ontario

As the proportion of Canadians over the age of 55 continues to rise, it accordingly becomes increasingly important to understand the implications that their leisure activities have for their physical and mental health. Gambling is a form of leisure that presents relatively high risk for its participants and remains a popular leisure pursuit among older adults. The current study uses a representative survey of 2,187 adults over the age of 55 in Ontario to explore problem gambling and gambling-related behaviours among older adults. The findings show that 1.8% of the population over the age 55 were classified as experiencing moderate-to-severe problem gambling. While differences across sex were observed in types of gambling, attitudes towards gambling, and frequency of gambling, no significance difference in problem gambling was observed. Findings are discussed in relation to previous findings on older adults’ gambling patterns and their implications for mental, physical and financial well-being.RésuméAvec la constante augmentation de la proportion de Canadiens âgés de plus de 55 ans, il devient de plus en plus important de comprendre les répercussions qu’ont leurs activités de loisir sur leur santé physique et mentale. Le jeu est une forme de loisir qui présente un risque relativement élevé chez les personnes qui s’y adonnent et demeure un loisir populaire chez les personnes plus âgées. L’étude en question a utilisé un sondage représentatif auprès de 2187 adultes âgés de plus de 55 ans en Ontario pour explorer le jeu problématique et les comportements liés au jeu chez les personnes plus âgées. Les résultats montrent que 1,8 % de la population âgée de plus de 55 ans a été classée comme ayant un problème de jeu, de modéré à grave. Bien que des différences entre les sexes aient été observées dans les types de jeu, les attitudes à l’égard du jeu et la fréquence, aucune différence significative n’a été observée dans le jeu problématique. Les résultats sont examinés en lien avec des conclusions antérieures sur les habitudes de jeu des personnes plus âgées et leurs répercussions sur le bien-être mental, physique et financier.

Exploring the Effects of Introducing a State Monopoly Operator to an Unregulated Online Gambling Market

Recent expansions in regulated offerings to include online forms of gambling have been undertaken amid animated debate on the potential impacts of this legalization. The objective of the present study is to examine changes in online gambling patterns before and after the opening of Espacejeux: the state-operated gambling website in Québec, Canada. Information on gambling habits was drawn from two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted with samples representative of the general adult population of the province of Québec in 2009 (N = 11,888) and 2012 (N = 12,008). Behavioural data were retrieved from the Online Poker Database of the University of Hamburg (ODP-UHH) for 4,591,298 (2009/2010) and 2,909,562 (2013) unique real money poker identities; all Québec players were retained for analysis. Gambling patterns before and after legalization of online gambling were compared. The prevalence of Internet gambling remained stable: 1.5% of the population gambled online in 2012 compared to 1.4% in 2009. Of those surveyed, 82.5% continued to gamble on unregulated sites in 2012 and data from OPD-UHH confirmed that 90% of all real money online poker players still bet on unregulated sites in 2013. Results suggest that it may be prudent for government stakeholders to consider alternative approaches for managing online gambling offerings. Longitudinal analyses are needed to disentangle the effects of legalization of online gambling.RésuméL’augmentation récente d’offres réglementées, notamment des jeux en ligne, a fait l’objet de vifs débats sur les répercussions possibles de cette légalisation. Cette étude examine les changements dans les modèles de jeux en ligne avant et après l’ouverture d’Espacejeux, le site de jeux exploité par la province de Québec, au Canada. L’information sur les habitudes de jeu a été tirée de deux enquêtes transversales répétées, réalisées avec des échantillons représentatifs de la population générale adulte de la province de Québec en 2009 (N = 11 888) et 2012 (N = 12 008). Les données comportementales ont été tirées de la base de données de poker en ligne de l’Université de Hambourg (ODP-UHH) sur 4 591 298 (2009/2010) et 2 909 562 (2013) joueurs de poker avec argent réel. Tous les joueurs québécois ont été retenus pour l’analyse. On a comparé les modèles de jeu avant et après la légalisation de jeux en ligne. La prévalence de jeu sur Internet est restée stable : 1,5 % de la population a joué en ligne en 2012 contre 1,4 % en 2009. Parmi les personnes sondées, 82,5 % d’entre elles ont continué de jouer sur des sites non réglementés en 2012 et les données de l’Université de Hambourg ont permis de confirmer que 90 % des joueurs de poker en ligne avec argent réel misent toujours sur des sites non réglementés en 2013. Avec ces résultats, les parties prenantes du gouvernement seraient avisées d’envisager d’autres approches pour la gestion des offres de jeux en ligne. Il faut effectuer des analyses longitudinales pour distinguer clairement les effets de la légalisation du jeu en ligne.