What risks do simulated gambling activities pose to young people?

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What risks do simulated gambling activities

pose to young people?

Preliminary results from the SAMUS project Lead author: Daniel King1

Co-authors: Paul Delfabbro1_{, T. Zwaans}1_{, & D. Kaptsis}1

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Outline of Presentation

• Background

• Young people and electronic media

• Convergence of gambling and digital media • Implications for adolescent gambling

• Study outline

• Design • Sample • Measures

• Main findings

• Discussion

• Simulated gambling: The big picture • Risks of simulated gambling?

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Youth and electronic media misuse

• Average youth spends 8 hrs/day on electronic media activities

• 75% of male adolescents play video games every week (Desai et al., 2010)

• Average time: 35 to 75 mins per day

• 9% of males aged 8-18 years report excessive gaming

• Excessive media use involves:

• Behavioural salience

• Loss of control over activities, e.g., video-gaming

• Negative psychosocial consequences (Gentile, 2011)

• Psychosocial impact of excessive gaming:

• Aggression (Anderson et al., 2010)

• Poorer academic achievement (Smyth, 2007)

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Convergence refers to a number of related processes and trends,

but relates in general terms to the growing inter-dependence

between the channels through which media and its content are

provided.

Two contributing factors:

1. Advancements in the enabling technology supporting digital forms of gambling, such as broadband accessibility (e.g., 4G network)

2. Provision of new platforms through which individuals can gamble, such as mobile technology, gaming devices, and digital television.

King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., & Griffiths, M. D. (2010). The convergence of gambling and digital media: Implications for gambling in young people. Journal of Gambling Studies, 26, 175-187.

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How gambling and digital media converge

1. When a single media channel (e.g., the Internet or digital television) becomes capable of delivering media (e.g., radio, television) that was previously accessible only through separate channels and/or devices.

2. The co-location of activities or content that previously could not be provided together. For example, this might occur when media becomes capable of providing both the ability to view a sporting match, write a letter, or play a video-game all on the same device. 3. When one type of digital activity is embedded with another (e.g., a

gambling activity can be played with a video gambling activity or vice versa).

4. When a single activity is designed so as to fulfil a common purpose (e.g., when a game show or video game also shares some of the interactive elements of gambling).

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• Monetary forms

• Online gambling sites, virtual casinos

• Smartphone apps

• Telephone betting

• Interactive television (i-TV)

• Non-monetary forms

• “Free play” or demo modes

• MMOs

• Gambling-like content in video games

• Social networking sites

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Simulated gambling: A typology

(King et al. 2012) • Standard gambling simulation: a digitally simulated interactive

gambling activity that is structurally identical to the standard format of an established gambling activity, such as blackjack or roulette;

• Non-standard gambling simulation: an interactive gambling activity

that involves the wagering of in-game credits or other items on an uncertain outcome, in an activity that may be partially modelled on a standard gambling activity but which contains distinct player rules or other structural components that differ from established gambling games;

• Gambling references: the appearance of non-interactive gambling

material or gambling-related paraphernalia/materials within the context of the video game.

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Standard gambling simulation Non-standard gambling simulation

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Gambling in MMORPGs

Few different types:

1. Actual casinos, using in-game currency

2. Player-to-player wagering on random events

3. Chance-based activities with prizes

4. Random loot and auction sales Recent example:

• “Squeal of Fortune” in Runescape

• An optional activity available to all players • Players spin the wheel to win prizes

• Extra spins may be purchased with $$$ • Prizes include rare in-game items

• Can convert prize to currency

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Sunday Morning Herald, Jan 2012

MMO community website, Jan 2012

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Gambling machines Video games

Onscreen display of score  

Sound and graphics  

Audiovisual rewards _ _

Competitive elements _ _

Skill-based elements  

Require response to

predictable visual stimuli  

Rapid span of play  

Random elements _ _

Scripted ‘near miss’ event  

Entrapment  

No endpoint  

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Classification of simulated gambling in VGs

• Since 2000, over 100 video games featuring gambling

simulations have been classified as “family” entertainment:

• Two-thirds rated ‘PG’ for Parental Guidance (i.e., 8+ years)

• One-third rated ‘G’ for General (i.e. all ages)

• Mature games do not display consumer advice on gambling

• The interactive nature of gambling not recognised under OFLC

Australian Code of Classification

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Simulated gambling: Implications for youth I

• Greater accessibility and familiarity

• More visible, attractive, and ubiquitous

• Normalisation of the activity

• Early development of gambling strategies

• Knowledge of gambling activities

• Brand recognition

• Earlier involvement

• Fewer restrictions on first gambling experience (<18yrs)

• Unsupervised: solitary, or with peers

• Development of positive attitudes toward gambling

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• Greater chance of experiencing a “big win”

• Websites engineer early big wins (Smeaton & Griffiths, 2004) • Lack of financial element may create disconnection between

action and consequence, “safety net” for risky behaviours

• Inducements to gamble with real money (e.g., free credit)

• Enables unhelpful coping styles

• Gambling as an escape

• Characteristics of the online environment (Suler, 2004)

• Asocial and anonymous • Mood modification:

• Euphoria • Disinhibition • Immersion

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• Peer influences

• Internet facilitates social competition and approval

• Mere presence effects, “alone together”

• Interaction with older, experienced gamblers

• Gambling as family entertainment

• “Cocooning” effects

• Increase parental transmission of attitudes

• Lack of consumer advice, warnings

• Protective factor: Earlier detection/controlled gambling?

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South Australian Media Use Study (SAMUS)

Study objectives:

I. To investigate youth exposure and participation rates

across a range of simulated gambling activities

II. To examine the co-occurrence of simulated gambling

with monetary gambling and its potential risks for

problem gambling

III. To examine the co-occurrence of problem gambling

with problem Internet use and video-gaming

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Methodology

• Population survey: Youth aged 12-18 years

• Recruited from 50 randomly selected secondary schools

in SA inner/outer metropolitan area

• 8 schools participated

• 95%+ response rate

• Two survey formats:

• Online (Surveymonkey)

• Paper-and-pencil

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Measures

• Demographics

• Electronic media use

• History of use

• Ownership and accessibility • Current use and function • Social aspects

• Gambling involvement

• Monetary vs. Non-monetary • Online vs. Offline

• Simulated gambling

• Free play modes

• Social networking sites • Mobile phone apps • Video games

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Measures (cont.)

Variable

Instrument

• Problem gambling

DSM-IV-J

• Problematic technology use (PTU)

PTU-S

• Scale I. Internet use • Scale II. Video-gaming

• Mental health

RCADS

• Depression • Anxiety

• Social Skills and Competence

CBCL

• Social Isolation/Loneliness

UCLA-LS

• Sleep interference

• Sleep activity

• Media → Sleep delay/displacement • Media → Sleep interruption

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Electronic media use: General

Total M (SD) Males Females (M-F) t Cohen’s d Internet Use 13.6 (11.8) 13.5 (11.6) 13.7 (12.1) .19 .02 Video games 3.7 (7.1) 6.5 (8.7) 1.0 (3.3) 11.6** .84 Music 11.6 (14.3) 10.1 (13.5) 13.1 (15.1) 2.8** .21 Television/film 8.5 (7.1) 8.1 (7.2) 9.0 (7.1) -2.2* .13 Reading books 2.4 (2.6) 1.9 (3.2) 2.8 (3.9) -3.1** .25 *p < .05, **p < .01

• Internet use is the most popular youth media activity • Boys spend 6x more time playing video games than girls

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Gambling prevalence (12-month period)

• Lower overall rates as compared to previous studies

• Card games and scratch tickets were lower

• Difference in rates may be broader age range in SAMUS

SA 2007 Darwin 2009 SA 2012 Card games 26.7 18.3 _11.0 Poker machines 4.5 3.1 _3.4 Racing 18.8 14.8 _11.5 Sports 14.9 11.6 _7.5 Lotteries 8.6 6.6 _7.3 Keno 9.6 19.5 _- Scratch tickets 39.6 32.2 _16.4

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Gambling: Monetary vs. Non-monetary

0 50 100 150 200 250

$$$ Free $$$ Free $$$ Free $$$ Free $$$ Free $$$ Free $$$ Free Cards EGM Horse racing Lott Sports Scratch tickets Other

Figure. Number of participants who reported involvement in monetary and non-monetary gambling activities in the last 12 months

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Objective I

To investigate youth exposure and participation rates across a range of simulated gambling activities

• Online gambling activity of any kind was low, in and of itself and

relative to other online activities

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Simulated gambling: participation rates

• 2.5% of youth have tried gambling on the Internet with money • Males generally 2x or more likely to engage in simulated gambling • Nearly 30% of males play video games featuring simulated gambling

Total N % Males (N) Females (N)

Have you ever tried…

Gambling with money on the Internet? 20 2.5 13 7

Gambling using free or trial modes online? 37 4.6 22 15

Gambling apps on Facebook? 66 8.3 49 17

Gambling apps on a mobile phone? 50 6.3 37 13

Video games that feature gambling? 198 24.8 153 45

Number of VGs played featuring gambling

None 569 71.4 210 358

1 114 14.3 86 28

2-3 79 9.9 64 15

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Objective II

To examine the co-occurrence of simulated gambling with monetary gambling and problem gambling

Figure. Participation rates (%) in monetary gambling activities by those who do and do not engage in simulated gambling

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Sim

Gam No Sim SimGam No Sim SimGam No Sim SimGam No Sim SimGam No Sim SimGam No Sim SimGam No Sim Cards EGM Horse racing Lott Sports Scratch tickets Online

gambling

NB: Each column refers to % of the individual subset. For example, Bar 1 indicates that 20% of simulated gamblers engage in monetary card games, whereas 6% of those who do not SM engage in the card games.

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Simulated gambling: Problem gambling symptoms

• All pathological gamblers were simulated gamblers

• Chi-Square analysis

• There were significant differences between the category of simulated

gambling status and problem gambling symptoms

• Preliminary multivariate analysis indicates that involvement in

simulated gambling is a significant predictor of monetary gambling and problem gambling severity, after controlling for age and gender

• Using gambling apps on Facebook has strongest association with

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Problem behaviours: Gambling, Internet and video-gaming

Gambling (%) Internet Use (%) Video-gaming (%) Preoccupation 4.0 22.6 15.6 Loss of control 2.5 23.6 19.4 Withdrawal 2.4 10.0 5.4 Escape 1.1 22.9 16.6 Theft 1.0 2.6 2.4 Missing school 1.4 - - Lying/Secrecy 1.0 11.0 6.9 Arguments 2.1 - - Chasing 2.1 - - Tolerance 2.8 5.8 7.0 TOTAL Not at risk 92.1 25.5 48.3 At Risk 6.4 62.0 44.5 Problem 1.5 12.5 7.2 PATHOL. GAMBLERS - 20.6 14.8

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Strengths and limitations

Strengths

• Large sample (approx. 1,500)

• Representative cross-section of age, gender, locality

• Separation of PTU types (i.e., Internet vs. Video-gaming) • Distinction of monetary vs. non-monetary vs. gambling-like

Weaknesses

• Cross-sectional design (i.e., a “snapshot” only) • ↓ validity of self-report among adolescents