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The impact of a game’s
characteristics on gambling behaviour
Survey Link Below
The introduction of new media in which to gamble
(e.g., Internet gambling, mobile phone gambling, interactive
television gambling), has greatly increased the accessibility and
popularity of gambling worldwide. Gambling research has become
policy-relevant and is an area where more psychological research is
greatly needed. We are currently being funded by the Responsible
Gambling Fund to examine game characteristics in online games and how
these impact on gambling behaviour. The overall aims of our three-year
research programme are to establish: (i) what types of interactive
gambling technology (IGT) currently exist, how are they located,
accessed, and utilised by players, (ii) what the most important
structural and situational characteristics of all forms of IGT are and
how they impact (psychologically and socially) on gamblers’ lives, and
(iii) what makes new and developing forms of IGT potentially
problematic for a small minority of gamblers.
Our objective was to address these aims through
three stages of linked research. This, we hope, will indicate which
game characteristics are most important to gamblers, (e.g., online
poker players may be very different to online slot machine players in
terms of what is most attractive to them). The findings will not only
be useful to gamblers and the gambling industry but may also help in
the development of more socially responsible gambling practices.
Our project involves three large scale studies.
These are (i) a scoping study of the structural and situational
characteristics of internet gambling, (ii) in-depth interviews with
gamblers, internet gamblers and non-gamblers to examine some of the
motivating factors of online gambling behaviour as well as some of the
inhibiting factors of engaging in online gambling, and (iii) an online
survey of online gambling behaviour. The first two stages are now
complete and have led to the development of further questions to be
tested empirically in the final stage of the research (i.e., the
online survey).
We now need to get data from as
many internet gamblers as possible so that we can reach a better
understanding for the causes and reasons for internet gambling, and
how this compares to individuals who engage in offline gambling. It is
possible that internet gambling sites offer players a range of
distinct features that are unavailable in land-based venues and
internet gambling may be used by a different population than
land-based gambling. By completing this online survey (please click on
the link below) your responses will be tremendously helpful in
supporting scientific research into gambling. Your participation is
greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Click the Link to Take the Survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KQ33Y5M
Abby McCormack and Professor Mark Griffiths.
We can be contacted at the International Gaming
Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street, Nottingham,
NG1 4BU, UK. Email:
abby.mccormack@ntu.ac.uk or
mark.griffiths@ntu.ac.uk
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