title: Hierarchy of Gambling Choices: A Framework for Examining EGM Gambling Environment Preferences.
abstract: This paper presents the Hierarchy of Gambling Choices (HGC), which is a consumer-oriented framework for understanding the key environmental and contextual features that influence peoples' selections of online and venue-based electronic gaming machines (EGMs). The HGC framework proposes that EGM gamblers make choices in selection of EGM gambling experiences utilising Tversky's (Psychol Rev 79(4):281-299, 1972). Elimination-by-Aspects model, and organise their choice in a hierarchical manner by virtue of EGMs being an "experience good" (Nelson in J Polit Econ 78(2):311-329, 1970). EGM features are divided into three levels: the platform-including, online, mobile or land-based; the provider or specific venue in which the gambling occurs; and the game or machine characteristics, such as graphical themes and bonus features. This framework will contribute to the gambling field by providing a manner in which to systematically explore the environment surrounding EGM gambling and how it affects behaviour.
authors.affiliation: School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, CQUniversity, 120 Spencer St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia. h.thorne@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Hannah Briony
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.affiliation: School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, CQUniversity, Locked Bag 3333, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew Justus
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rockloff
authors.affiliation: School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, CQUniversity, PO Box 7815, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Langham
authors.affiliation: School of Business and Law, CQUniversity, Bruce Highway, North Rockhampton, QLD, 4702, Australia.
authors.forename: En
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012201:Reward; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Electronic gaming machine (EGM); Elimination-by-Aspects (EBA); Gambling environment; Hierarchy of Gambling Choices (HGC)