title: Prize level and debt size: impact on gambling behaviour.
abstract: No studies to date have specifically determined the relationship between prize levels, debt size, and impulsivity on reported gambling behaviour on Electronic Gaming Machines (EGM). The present study reports the findings of a pilot study designed to investigate whether or not the likelihood of increasing the size of a bet was related to the level of prize offered and personal debt. The sample consisted of 171 first year psychology students (61 males and 120 females). Participants completed a series of gambling vignettes designed to elicit data on reported bet size according to different prize levels and debt sizes; the Eysenck Impulsivity Scale (Eysenck and Eysenck 1977); the Canadian Problem Gambling Index; and an author-constructed questionnaire eliciting data on demographic and gambling behaviours. Results indicated that as prize levels increase the odds (relative risk) of an individual placing a bet on an EGM and the amount of money reportedly bet tends to increase. A negative relationship between debt size and reported gambling behaviour moderated by prize level was found. No differences were found in the odds of placing a bet according to impulsivity. It was concluded that prize and debt sizes do influence propensities to gamble and level of bets. The findings have implications for restricting jackpot and general prize levels as a responsible gambling strategy designed to reduce motivations to gamble.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology (A18), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crewe-Brown
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blaszczynski
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012201:Reward; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Scand J Psychol. 2006 Feb;47(1):43-9
references.pmid: 16433661
references.citation: Neuropsychologia. 2011 Dec;49(14):3891-7
references.pmid: 22019775
references.citation: Clin Psychol Rev. 2002 Feb;22(1):1-25
references.pmid: 11793575
references.citation: Br J Soc Clin Psychol. 1977 Feb;16(1):57-68
references.pmid: 843784
references.citation: Addiction. 2002 May;97(5):487-99
references.pmid: 12033650
references.citation: J Gambl Stud. 2001 Spring;17(1):47-69
references.pmid: 11705016
references.citation: Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2000 Sep;25(3):155-65
references.pmid: 10999234
references.citation: Addiction. 1998 Jun;93(6):895-905
references.pmid: 9744125
references.citation: Subst Use Misuse. 2008;43(12-13):1844-64
references.pmid: 19016168
references.citation: Clin Psychol Rev. 2002 Sep;22(7):1009-61
references.pmid: 12238245
references.citation: J Gambl Stud. 1995 Jun;11(2):185-93
references.pmid: 24233429
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1990 Jan;58(1):95-102
references.pmid: 2308076
references.citation: J Gambl Stud. 2003 Winter;19(4):359-86
references.pmid: 14634298
references.citation: Addiction. 1997 Jan;92(1):75-87
references.pmid: 9060199
references.citation: Psychol Addict Behav. 2004 Mar;18(1):49-55
references.pmid: 15008685
references.citation: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2004 Apr;28(2):123-41
references.pmid: 15172761
references.citation: Psychophysiology. 2012 Feb;49(2):207-19
references.pmid: 22091824
references.citation: Br J Psychol. 1997 Nov;88 ( Pt 4):671-81
references.pmid: 9415966
references.citation: Addiction. 2003 Jan;98(1):53-60
references.pmid: 12492755
references.citation: J Psychol. 2004 Nov;138(6):495-504
references.pmid: 15612606
references.citation: Int J Addict. 1991 May;26(5):531-48
references.pmid: 1938008
references.citation: Behav Cogn Psychother. 2009 Jan;37(1):49-59
references.pmid: 19364407
references.citation: Psychol Addict Behav. 2005 Sep;19(3):311-6
references.pmid: 16187811
references.citation: Psychol Psychother. 2007 Mar;80(Pt 1):107-25
references.pmid: 17346384
references.citation: Psychol Addict Behav. 2008 Sep;22(3):380-390
references.pmid: 18778131
references.citation: J Gambl Stud. 2011 Mar;27(1):83-97
references.pmid: 20372997
references.citation: Science. 2002 Mar 22;295(5563):2279-82
references.pmid: 11910116
references.citation: J Gambl Stud. 2008 Sep;24(3):257-74
references.pmid: 18256906
references.citation: J Gambl Stud. 2010 Sep;26(3):361-72
references.pmid: 20084433
references.citation: J Gambl Stud. 2002 Winter;18(4):361-70
references.pmid: 12514915