| Title: Masthead |
| File: Masthead-V52 |
| Title: Helplines for problem gambling worldwide: What do they do and whom do they reach? |
| Authors: Anne H Berman, Angelica Arillo, Anna Berntsson, & Simone Rodda |
| Abstract: Problem gambling (PG), defined as gambling with risked or actual negative consequences, has increased during recent decades, generating serious harm for individuals, their concerned significant others (CSO’s), and society. One way to reduce PG among individuals and in society is to offer qualified support via remote helplines. In order to update limited current information about gambling helpline services worldwide, a global survey was conducted, targeting helplines for PG to map services directly offered by each helpline, communication channels utilized, and client groups served. All known helplines (n=82) were approached, with a response rate of 37% (n=30). Most helplines offered their clients information, advice, and referral to treatment providers. The type of help directly offered for individuals with PG mostly included motivational interviewing (MI) and advice, while CSO’s were offered supportive counseling and advice. All helplines offered telephone sessions as their main communication channel and commonly also included chat- and email- based support. Men were in the majority among callers concerning PG while most CSO callers were women; other client characteristics were similar on all continents. Suggested directions for future research include improving and harmonizing helpline data reporting to facilitate collecting data from a larger proportion of helplines, exploring how helplines might increase the evidence base for services offered, particularly to CSO’s, and increasing helpline outreach. |
| Pages: 1-32 |
| Keywords: Concerned Significant Others, Gambling, Problem Gambling, Helplines, Motivational Interviewing, Treatment. |
| File: Berman et al. |
| DOI: doi.org/10.4309/BFYM7475 |
| Title: Skilled poker players provide more accurate responses than amateur poker players to the Gambling Fallacies Measure |
| Authors: Philip W. S. Newall & Jian-Qiao Zhu |
| Abstract: Gambling fallacies are mistaken beliefs about how gambling works, and these form a key part of current theorising about disordered gambling. However, it has been suggested that key self-report scales for gambling fallacies may contain items that are inappropriate for skill-based gambling games. This research explores this topic by comparing amateur and skilled poker players’ responses to the Gambling Fallacies Measure (GFM). Skilled players provided an average of 8.97 out of 10 accurate responses, which was significantly higher than amateurs’ average score of 6.76. Item five (“A positive attitude or doing good deeds increases your likelihood of winning money when gambling”) was the only item where skilled players (87.9%) were not significantly more accurate than amateurs (87.1%). Future research along these lines could increase understanding of the rational cognitions underlying skilled poker play. |
| Pages: 33-43 |
| Keywords: Fallacy, Gambling, Gambling Fallacies Measure, Poker, Skill. |
| File: Newall & Zhu |
| DOI: doi.org/10.4309/NFYV4596 |
| Title: Validating the Two-Factor Model of the Gambling Functional Assessment – Revised in a Mainland Chinese sample |
| Authors: Kimberly Tom, Xun Zhu, Hsuan-Ying Liu, & Jeffrey Weatherly |
| Abstract: The Gambling Functional Assessment – Revised (GFA-R) was developed to measure the degree to which gambling behavior is maintained by positive reinforcement and/or negative reinforcement. In the current study, the GFA-R, South Oaks Gambling Screen, and Problem Gambling Severity Index were translated into simplified Chinese and completed by university students from mainland China (N = 299). A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on a subset of the sample who scored greater than 0 on the GFA-R (N = 112). Results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed the previously validated two-factor model of the original GFA-R (i.e., positive reinforcement & negative reinforcement) adequately fit the data from the current sample. Five of the items from the GFA-R did not adequately load to either factor; cultural factors and translation issues were discussed as possible explanations. Consistent with previous research, gambling maintained by negative reinforcement was found to be more strongly correlated with gambling problems than gambling maintained by positive reinforcement. These results indicate the Chinese version of the GFA-R may be useful for identifying maintaining contingencies for gambling behavior in Chinese populations, which may be beneficial to practitioners when attempting to treat gambling problems. |
| Pages: 44-58 |
| Keywords: Factor Structure, Gambling, Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Foreign Language Translation, Scale Validation. |
| File: Tom et al. |
| DOI: doi.org/10.4309/APNF9098 |
| Title: Gambling Problems among Students Attending University in the United Kingdom: Associations with Gender, Financial Hardship and Year of Study |
| Authors: Morgan B. Zolkwer, Glen Dighton, Bryan F Singer, & Simon Dymond |
| Abstract: University students may be at increased risk of gambling related problems. The present study investigated the gambling experience and general wellbeing of domestic and international students attending a higher- education university in the United Kingdom (UK). An online survey consisting of demographic characteristics, gambling experience, problem gambling severity, and general mental health measures was completed by n=402 undergraduates. Results indicated that 44% of students engaged in at-risk gambling and 6% in PG. General mental health scores did not differ across gambling severity. Male gender identity was a significant risk-factor for both at-risk and PG. Accessing university financial hardship funds and being in the final year of study were significant risk-factors for problem gambling. Overall, gambling problems are significant concerns for UK university students and the risk of problematic gambling is associated with financial hardship, year of study, and gender. |
| Pages: 59-79 |
| Keywords: Gambling, Students, Mental Health, Gender, Financial Hardship |
| File: Zolkwer et al. |
| DOI: doi.org/10.4309/FYPO3349 |
| Title: Remembering ‘Texas Hold’em Heads Up Poker’, the first skill-based electronic gaming machine |
| Author: Philip W. S. Newall |
| Abstract: N/A |
| Pages: 80-85 |
| Keywords: Texas Hold’em, Skill, Electronic Gaming Machine. |
| File: Newall |
| DOI: doi.org/10.4309/GEOL6662 |
| Title: Online Gambling and Pornography among Youth: An application of Uses & Gratification Theory |
| Authors: Toktam Namayandeh Joorabchi, Fatemeh Shahmohammadi, & Amla Salleh |
| Abstract: Young people are involved broadly in online entertainment, including gambling and pornography, which can be quite problematic. Internet gambling and pornography use have become increasingly prominent in the last decade. In the light of Uses and Gratification (U&G) theory, the present study aims to identify the relationship between Internet use gratification, attitudes toward the Internet, online gambling and pornography use through a survey of 440 Malaysian young people. The research did not find any statistically meaningful relationship among Internet use gratification, attitude towards Internet, online gambling, and pornography use, nor between age, field of study and pornography use. However, there were a significant relationship between gender and gambling, and a significant relationship between gender and pornography use. Age and online gambling also showed a significant negative relationship. |
| Pages: 86-108 |
| Keywords: Internet Use, Pornography, Online Gambling, Attitudes, Uses and Gratification Theory, Internet. |
| File: Joorabchi et al. |
| DOI: doi.org/10.4309/ZLOY2011 |
| Title: Structural characteristics of online gambling platforms: How the provision of multiple gambling formats could contribute to harm |
| Authors: Philip W. S. Newall & Youssef Allami |
| Abstract: N/A |
| Pages: 109-113 |
| Keywords: Gambling Games, Internet Gambling, Online Poker, Online Sports Betting, Online Casinos |
| File: Newall & Alami |
| DOI: doi.org/10.4309/GMCD1776 |