Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies 2/2016

01-06-2016 | Original Paper

The Gambling Preferences and Behaviors of a Community Sample of Australian Regular Video Game Players

Authors: Cameron J. Forrest, Daniel L. King, Paul H. Delfabbro

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 2/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Research has noted many similarities between video gaming and gambling activities. It has been suggested that video game players may also be attracted to gambling, although there is limited research on this possibility. The present study examined concurrent video gaming and gambling habits in a sample of regular video game players in Australia (N = 485, 84 % male, M age = 25.8). Gambling involvement was found to be a generally unpopular activity among regular video game players. No significant association between frequency of video game play and frequency of gambling was found. Although significant correlations between gaming ‘addiction’ scores and gambling frequency were identified, age was the only significant predictor of gambling when controlling for all remaining variables. These findings are critically discussed in the context of past research, and future research directions concerning the link between video gaming and gambling are proposed.
Literature
go back to reference Brown, R. I. F. (1989). Gaming, gambling, risk taking, addictions and a developmental model of man-machine relationships. In J. Klabberg, D. Croowall, H. de Jong, & W. Scheper (Eds.), Simulation gaming (p. 368). Oxford: Pergamon. Brown, R. I. F. (1989). Gaming, gambling, risk taking, addictions and a developmental model of man-machine relationships. In J. Klabberg, D. Croowall, H. de Jong, & W. Scheper (Eds.), Simulation gaming (p. 368). Oxford: Pergamon.
go back to reference Delfabbro, P., King, D., Lambos, C., & Pulgies, S. (2009). Is video-game playing a risk factor for pathological gambling in Australian adolescents? Journal of Gambling Studies, 25, 391–405.CrossRefPubMed Delfabbro, P., King, D., Lambos, C., & Pulgies, S. (2009). Is video-game playing a risk factor for pathological gambling in Australian adolescents? Journal of Gambling Studies, 25, 391–405.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Delfabbro, P., & Thrupp, L. (2003). The social determinants of youth gambling in South Australian adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 26(3), 313–330.CrossRefPubMed Delfabbro, P., & Thrupp, L. (2003). The social determinants of youth gambling in South Australian adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 26(3), 313–330.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Ferguson, C. J., Coulson, M., & Barnett, J. (2011). A meta-analysis of pathological gaming prevalence and comorbidity with mental health, academic and social problems. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45, 1573–1578.CrossRefPubMed Ferguson, C. J., Coulson, M., & Barnett, J. (2011). A meta-analysis of pathological gaming prevalence and comorbidity with mental health, academic and social problems. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45, 1573–1578.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Fisher, S. (1993). Gambling and pathological gambling in adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 9(3), 277–288.CrossRef Fisher, S. (1993). Gambling and pathological gambling in adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 9(3), 277–288.CrossRef
go back to reference Fisher, S. (1994). Identifying video game addiction in children and adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 19(5), 545–553.CrossRefPubMed Fisher, S. (1994). Identifying video game addiction in children and adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 19(5), 545–553.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Fisher, S., & Griffiths, M. (1995). Current trends in slot machine gambling: Research and policy issues. Journal of Gambling Studies, 1(3), 239–247.CrossRef Fisher, S., & Griffiths, M. (1995). Current trends in slot machine gambling: Research and policy issues. Journal of Gambling Studies, 1(3), 239–247.CrossRef
go back to reference Greenberg, J. L., Lewis, S. E., & Dodd, D. K. (1999). Overlapping addictions and self-esteem among college men and women. Addictive Behaviors, 24(4), 565–571.CrossRefPubMed Greenberg, J. L., Lewis, S. E., & Dodd, D. K. (1999). Overlapping addictions and self-esteem among college men and women. Addictive Behaviors, 24(4), 565–571.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Griffiths, M. D. (1991). Amusement machine playing in childhood and adolescence: A comparative analysis of video games and fruit machines. Journal of Adolescence, 14, 53–73.CrossRefPubMed Griffiths, M. D. (1991). Amusement machine playing in childhood and adolescence: A comparative analysis of video games and fruit machines. Journal of Adolescence, 14, 53–73.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Griffiths, M. (2005). A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191–197.CrossRef Griffiths, M. (2005). A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191–197.CrossRef
go back to reference Griffiths, M. D. (2010a). The role of context in online gaming excess and addiction: Some case study evidence. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8, 119–125.CrossRef Griffiths, M. D. (2010a). The role of context in online gaming excess and addiction: Some case study evidence. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8, 119–125.CrossRef
go back to reference Griffiths, M. D. (2010b). The use of online methodologies in data collection for gambling and gaming addictions. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8, 8–20.CrossRef Griffiths, M. D. (2010b). The use of online methodologies in data collection for gambling and gaming addictions. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8, 8–20.CrossRef
go back to reference Griffiths, M. D., & Hunt, N. (1998). Dependence on computer games by adolescents. Psychological Reports, 82, 475–480.CrossRefPubMed Griffiths, M. D., & Hunt, N. (1998). Dependence on computer games by adolescents. Psychological Reports, 82, 475–480.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Griffiths, M., & Wood, R. T. A. (2000). Risk factors in adolescence: The case of gambling, videogame playing, and the internet. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16(2/3), 199–225.CrossRefPubMed Griffiths, M., & Wood, R. T. A. (2000). Risk factors in adolescence: The case of gambling, videogame playing, and the internet. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16(2/3), 199–225.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. L. (1996). The relationship between gambling and video-game playing behavior in children and adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12(4), 375–394.CrossRefPubMed Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. L. (1996). The relationship between gambling and video-game playing behavior in children and adolescents. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12(4), 375–394.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference King, D. L., & Delfabbro, P. H. (2014). The cognitive psychology of Internet gaming disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 34, 298–308.CrossRefPubMed King, D. L., & Delfabbro, P. H. (2014). The cognitive psychology of Internet gaming disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 34, 298–308.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., & Griffiths, M. D. (2010). Video game structural characteristics: A new psychological taxonomy. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8, 90–106.CrossRef King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., & Griffiths, M. D. (2010). Video game structural characteristics: A new psychological taxonomy. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8, 90–106.CrossRef
go back to reference King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., Kaptsis, D., & Zwaans, T. (2014). Adolescent simulated gambling via digital and social media: An emerging problem. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 305–313.CrossRef King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., Kaptsis, D., & Zwaans, T. (2014). Adolescent simulated gambling via digital and social media: An emerging problem. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 305–313.CrossRef
go back to reference King, D. L., Ejova, A., & Delfabbro, P. H. (2012). Illusory control, gambling, and video gaming: An investigation of regular gamblers and video game players. Journal of Gambling Studies, 28, 421–435.CrossRefPubMed King, D. L., Ejova, A., & Delfabbro, P. H. (2012). Illusory control, gambling, and video gaming: An investigation of regular gamblers and video game players. Journal of Gambling Studies, 28, 421–435.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Ladouceur, R., & Dubé, D. (1995). Prevalence of pathological gambling and associated problems in individuals who visit non-gambling video arcades. Journal of Gambling Studies, 11(4), 361–365.CrossRefPubMed Ladouceur, R., & Dubé, D. (1995). Prevalence of pathological gambling and associated problems in individuals who visit non-gambling video arcades. Journal of Gambling Studies, 11(4), 361–365.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Lemmens, J. S., Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2009). Development and validation of a game addiction scale for adolescents. Media Psychology, 12(1), 77–95.CrossRef Lemmens, J. S., Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2009). Development and validation of a game addiction scale for adolescents. Media Psychology, 12(1), 77–95.CrossRef
go back to reference Sherry, J., Greenberg, B., Lucas, S., & Lachlan, K. (2006). Video game uses and gratifications as predictors of use and game preference. In P. Vorderer & J. Bryant (Eds.), Playing video games: Motives, responses and consequences (pp. 248–262). Mahwah, NJ: Laurence Erlbaum Associates. Sherry, J., Greenberg, B., Lucas, S., & Lachlan, K. (2006). Video game uses and gratifications as predictors of use and game preference. In P. Vorderer & J. Bryant (Eds.), Playing video games: Motives, responses and consequences (pp. 248–262). Mahwah, NJ: Laurence Erlbaum Associates.
go back to reference Walther, B., Morgenstern, M., & Hanewinkel, R. (2012). Co-occurrence of addictive behaviours: Personality factors related to substance use, gambling and computer gaming. European Addiction Research, 18, 167–174.CrossRefPubMed Walther, B., Morgenstern, M., & Hanewinkel, R. (2012). Co-occurrence of addictive behaviours: Personality factors related to substance use, gambling and computer gaming. European Addiction Research, 18, 167–174.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Wood, R. T. A., Gupta, R., Derevensky, J. L., & Griffiths, M. (2004). Video game playing and gambling in adolescents: Common risk factors. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 14(1), 77–100.CrossRef Wood, R. T. A., Gupta, R., Derevensky, J. L., & Griffiths, M. (2004). Video game playing and gambling in adolescents: Common risk factors. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 14(1), 77–100.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
The Gambling Preferences and Behaviors of a Community Sample of Australian Regular Video Game Players
Authors
Cameron J. Forrest
Daniel L. King
Paul H. Delfabbro
Publication date
01-06-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 2/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-015-9535-0

Other articles of this Issue 2/2016

Journal of Gambling Studies 2/2016 Go to the issue