Differences in the Gambling Behavior of Online and Non-online Student Gamblers in a Controlled Laboratory Environment.
Although research suggests that approximately 1 in 4 college students report having gambled online, few laboratory-based studies have been conducted enlisting online student gamblers. Moreover, it is unclear the extent to which differences in gambling behavior exist between online and non-online student gamblers. The current study examined if online gamblers would play more hands, commit more errors, and wager more credits than non-online student gamblers in a controlled, laboratory environment. Online (n = 19) and non-online (n = 26) student gamblers played video poker in three separate sessions and the number of hands played, errors committed, and credits wagered were recorded. Results showed that online student gamblers played more hands and committed more errors playing video poker than non-online student gamblers. The results from the current study extend previous research by suggesting that online gamblers engage in potentially more deleterious gambling behavior (e.g., playing more hands and committing more errors) than non-online gamblers. Additional research is needed to examine differences in the gambling behavior of online and non-online gamblers in a controlled, laboratory environment.
Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions, University of New Mexico, 2650 Yale SE MSC 11-6280, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA. kevinmontes@unm.edu.
Kevin S
KS
Montes
Psychology Department, University of North Dakota, Corwin-Larimore Hall, 319 Harvard St, P.O. Box 8380, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA.
Jeffrey N
JN
Weatherly
D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Non-online gamblers; Online gamblers; Problem gambling; Video poker