Losing More by Losing It: Poker Experience, Sensitivity to Losses and Tilting Severity

Abstract

In poker, detrimental decision-making as a result of losing control due to negative emotions is known as tilting. Previous evidence suggests that poker experience is related to better emotion regulation in dealing with poker losses, and possibly to reduced severity of tilting in the game. A correlational on-line study (N = 417) was conducted to operationalize the tilting phenomenon by defining certain experiential characteristics that conceivably protect players from tilting or predispose them to it. These characteristics, as well as a measurement of poker experience, were then used in predicting the severity of tilting. It was hypothesized that (1) players with more poker experience are more likely to perceive having tilted less severely, as a result of accumulating poker experience; (2) players with more poker experience have lower severity of tilting; (3) players with more poker experience report lower emotional sensitivity to losses; and (4) players with a higher emotional sensitivity to losses have higher severity of tilting. Hypotheses 1 and 4 were supported, hypothesis 3 was weakly supported, but contrary to hypothesis 2, poker experience was associated with higher tilting severity. It is argued that these results are sensible if experienced players are less likely to tilt in relative terms, per single hand, but more likely to tilt in the long run.

The Right to Remember: Implementing a Rudimentary Emotive-Effect Layer for Frustration on AI Agent Gameplay Strategy

“…The first outcome is that the effects of frustration will cause the player to become more determined in their pursuit of victory [8 & 14]. The second outcome is that the effects of frustration will cause the player to give-up, and, accepting their imminent defeat, the player will no longer make serious attempts towards victory either quitting the game then and there or continuing to play in a tokenistic fashion [17].…”

Identifying risk and mitigating gambling-related harm in online poker

“…Furthermore, it has been repeatedly identified that it is erroneous to consider all online gambling activities as being remotely homogenous, given the observed variation in not only the game structure but in the types of individuals that play specific games Laakusuo et al, 2014;Wood et al, 2014). At present, policy decisions surrounding online gambling - particularly in relation to problem gambling (and including problematic online poker players) - are often made by conceptualising online gambling as a single entity.…”

“…Impulsivity is believed to be a core predictor of problem gambling within poker gambling (Barrault & Varescon, 2013;Laakusuo et al, 2014). It is evident from predictive modelling that online poker players that have high variation and frequency in betting, indicative of emotionally--based gambling, are more likely to self--exclude which is considered by some as a reliable proxy for problem gambling (Braverman & Shaffer, 2012) (I now have data from Unibet showing otherwise which is why I've added 'by some as').…”

“…It is argued to be the key reason for monetary loss, and therefore harm, in poker gambling . Tilting describes reckless and emotionally driven gambling behaviour, where players find it difficult to cease gambling as they seek to chase incurred monetary losses and regain their damaged gambling self--identity and esteem (Lesieur, 1984;Palomaki et al, 2014;Rosenthal, 1995). Conversely, evidence shows that 'safe' poker gambling is dependent upon being able to incur losses and yet retaining emotional self--regulation Palomaki et al, 2014;Williams et al, 2011).…”

“…Tilting describes reckless and emotionally driven gambling behaviour, where players find it difficult to cease gambling as they seek to chase incurred monetary losses and regain their damaged gambling self--identity and esteem (Lesieur, 1984;Palomaki et al, 2014;Rosenthal, 1995). Conversely, evidence shows that 'safe' poker gambling is dependent upon being able to incur losses and yet retaining emotional self--regulation Palomaki et al, 2014;Williams et al, 2011). Therefore, when considering the primary source of risk in poker gambling, emphasis must be placed on minimising the likelihood of a customer tilting and maintaining composed control of both emotional reaction to gambling outcomes and betting behaviour (Barrault & Varescon, 2013).…”