Electronic gaming machine accessibility and gambling problems: A natural policy experiment

Background: Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are recognised as one of the most harmful forms of gambling at an individual level. However, it is unclear whether restriction of EGM functions and accessibility results in meaningful reductions in population-level gambling harm. Methods: This study employed a natural policy experiment to compare gambling problems between Australian residents in Western Australia (WA), where EGMs are restricted to a single venue and have different structural features, and residents in other Australian jurisdictions where EGMs are widely accessible in casinos, hotels and clubs. The accessibility of non-EGM forms of gambling is generally similar across all Australian jurisdictions. The study draws on a large (N = 15,000) nationally-representative dataset.Findings: Although gambling participation was slightly higher in WA, EGM participation was approximately half that found in the rest of Australia. Aggregate gambling problems and harm were about one-third lower in WA, and self-reported attribution of harm to EGMs by gamblers and affected others was 2·7x and 4x lower, respectively. Analyses using mediation and moderation determined that the attributable impact of EGMs in WA was 70% lower than elsewhere, and was responsible for the vast majority of the discrepancy in gambling problems (indirect path = -0·055, 95% CI -0·071; -0·038). Attributable problems to casino table games were slightly higher in WA, potentially due to redirection of demand, but this effect size was small relative to the reduction of problems due to EGMs. On an individual level, for a given level of participation in EGMs and other forms, the risk of problems were similar in WA and the rest of Australia. Interpretation: Reduced harm from gambling in WA is due to restricted accessibility of EGMs, and there is little transfer of problems to other gambling forms. These results suggest that restricting the accessibility of EGMs substantially reduces gambling harm.Funding: Gambling Research Australia (GRA) funded this research. GRA is a partnership between the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to initiate and manage a national program of gambling research.

What Influences how New Zealanders use Information Displays? An Analysis of Electronic Gaming Machine Records

<p>Electronic gaming machines (slot machines) contribute to problem gambling in New Zealand and worldwide. Information displays are one harm minimisation feature of New Zealand electronic gaming machines that has been investigated in recent years. New Zealand gamblers see two types of displays: interruptive pop-up displays after a set period of time has passed, and elective displays if a player presses an information button. These displays inform the gambler about their current session with the intention that they will facilitate informed decisions about continuing play or quitting. The current study used a week-long set of electronic gaming machine data from across New Zealand to run an exploratory investigation into the utility of these information displays. We first observed that fewer than 2% of pop-up displays resulted in people quitting. On this basis it is unlikely that interruptive pop-up displays are meaningfully reducing harm. Our analysis also revealed timing differences in how pop-up displays are scheduled on machines produced by different manufacturers. The likelihood of quitting on a pop-up was influenced by complex interactions of machine and session characteristics, however these effects were small. Secondly, our investigation of elective displays also identified a low rate of access, indicating they are also unlikely to be working effectively as a harm minimisation tool. Analysis revealed players’ likelihood of accessing an elective display was mostly influenced by the venue type they were in and the manufacturer of the machine. Possible recommendations to improve both types of displays include changes to message content, scheduled timing and visual features.</p>

What Influences how New Zealanders use Information Displays? An Analysis of Electronic Gaming Machine Records

<p>Electronic gaming machines (slot machines) contribute to problem gambling in New Zealand and worldwide. Information displays are one harm minimisation feature of New Zealand electronic gaming machines that has been investigated in recent years. New Zealand gamblers see two types of displays: interruptive pop-up displays after a set period of time has passed, and elective displays if a player presses an information button. These displays inform the gambler about their current session with the intention that they will facilitate informed decisions about continuing play or quitting. The current study used a week-long set of electronic gaming machine data from across New Zealand to run an exploratory investigation into the utility of these information displays. We first observed that fewer than 2% of pop-up displays resulted in people quitting. On this basis it is unlikely that interruptive pop-up displays are meaningfully reducing harm. Our analysis also revealed timing differences in how pop-up displays are scheduled on machines produced by different manufacturers. The likelihood of quitting on a pop-up was influenced by complex interactions of machine and session characteristics, however these effects were small. Secondly, our investigation of elective displays also identified a low rate of access, indicating they are also unlikely to be working effectively as a harm minimisation tool. Analysis revealed players’ likelihood of accessing an elective display was mostly influenced by the venue type they were in and the manufacturer of the machine. Possible recommendations to improve both types of displays include changes to message content, scheduled timing and visual features.</p>

Effect of within-session breaks in play on responsible gambling behaviour during sustained monetary losses

Rapid, continuous gambling formats are associated with higher risks for gambling-related harm in terms of excessive monetary and time expenditure. The current study investigated the effect on gambling response latency and persistence, of a new form of within-game intervention that required players to actively engage in response inhibition via monitoring for stop signals. Seventy-four experienced electronic gaming machine gamblers, with a mean age of 35.28 years, were recruited to participate in a rapid, continuous gambling task where real money could be won and lost. Participants were randomly allocated to either the control condition where no intervention was presented, or either a condition with a passive three minute break in play or a condition with a three minute intervention that required participants to engage in response inhibition. Although there was no main effect for experimental condition on gambling persistence, both interventions were effective in elevating response latency during a period of sustained losses. It was concluded that within-game interventions that create an enforced break in play are effective in increasing response latency between bets during periods of sustained losses. Furthermore, within-game interventions that require active involvement appear to be more effective in increasing response latency than standard, passive breaks in play.

The ‘Merry-Go-Round’ of Habitual Relapse: A Qualitative Study of Relapse in Electronic Gaming Machine Problem Gambling

Background: Our understanding of gambling relapse is limited despite the damaging consequences affecting many aspects of the gambler’s life. Paradoxically, regardless of these negative consequences problem gamblers (PGs) continue to relapse, seemingly unable to stop this cycle of harm. This paper addresses the phenomenon of repeated gambling relapse shedding some insights into why gamblers continue to relapse. Methods: The study comprised of (n = 54) participants purposefully selected who participated in either 1 of 5 focus groups (n = 35) or in-depth interviews (n = 19). The new knowledge obtained was from PGs, significant others, and workers with direct experience of gambling relapse. Interview recordings were analysed using thematic, textual analysis. Results: The avoidance of negative emotions from the consequences of the destructive behaviour associated with repeated relapse leads to a hopeless “merry-go-round”. Once on this “merry go round”, relapse becomes a habitual way of life where behaviour change and learning from the devastation of a gambling relapse is challenging. Exiting this cycle means PGs must face the consequences of their gambling which for many is overwhelming, and relapse is a way to avoid despair. Conclusions: These findings provide insights into relapse which has implications for gamblers seeking treatment, assessment and treatment “drop-outs”.