Prevention Messages for Electronic Gambling Machines: Effects on Behaviours and Cognitions

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to study how prevention pop-up messages affect the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions of regular players of electronic gambling machines (EGMs) who are not considered probable pathological gamblers. The study focuses on understanding these effects in a realistic gambling environment, as previous studies often used virtual credits or money instead of real money, which may not reflect true gambling behaviors. Participants take part in a gambling session held in a university laboratory designed to look like a typical bar, complete with real EGMs and an assistant acting as a bartender. They gamble with their own money and are told they can play as long as they want, take breaks, and keep any winnings, but losses are real. Some participants receive prevention pop-up messages on the EGM screen during their session, which appear at set times and provide warnings and advice. The session lasts up to two hours or until the participant decides to stop. During the study, participants first complete questionnaires by phone, then attend the gambling session where their behavior is closely monitored through the EGM system and discreet observation. After the session, they answer more questionnaires about their experience, thoughts, and feelings toward the prevention messages and realism of the setting. Participants are reimbursed for any money lost while gambling. The study measures outcomes like total gambling time, breaks taken, amount of money bet, emotional responses, and perceived self-control.

Prevention Messages for EGMs: Effects on Behaviours and Cognitions