Overconfidence in Understanding of How Electronic Gaming Machines Work Is Related to Positive Attitudes

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that attitudes are a primary determinant of intention to gamble on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) consistent with the Theory of Reasoned Action. This paper aims to address how biases in judgment can contribute to attitudes and subsequently behavior, including maladaptive problematic gambling behavior. We take a novel approach by viewing overconfidence in one’s understanding of how outcomes are determined on EGMs as an indication of cognitive distortions. The novelty of this paper is further increased as we compare attitudes to existing EGMs with novel EGMs which include a skill component, referred to as skill-based gaming machines (SGMs), which enables a better controlled comparison between actual and perceived skill. In Study 1, 232 US-based participants were recruited online who were shown various slot machines and SGMs and asked a series of questions about perceived skill and chance in determining outcomes to assess their understanding, then were asked their confidence in their understanding, attitudes toward the machines and they completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index. In Study 2, 246 Australian participants were recruited through community and university student samples; they attended a laboratory where they were randomly allocated to play a real EGM or SGM without money and completed the same measures as in Study 1. In Study 2, participants were randomly told that the outcomes on the machine they would play were determined entirely by chance, skill, or a mixture of both. In both studies, our findings suggest that there are more extreme values in overconfidence in how EGMs work, whereas individuals are more similar in their confidence in understanding SGMs. We also find a relationship between overconfidence in EGM understanding and positive attitudes toward EGMs, but no such relationship with SGMs. There was no impact from controlling for demographics, problem gambling severity, or labeling of machines on these relationships.

Short-term cognitive impacts of electronic gaming machines with and without a skill-based component: A comparative laboratory study

“…SGMs are designed to appeal to a market segment broader than traditional EGM players, but the extent to which SGMs appeal to individuals in populations vulnerable to gambling problems is an open question. Previous research comparing SGMs and EGMs shows that most participants believe EGMs involve at least some element of skill despite the reality that outcomes are purely chance-based (7,8) and there are concerns that SGMs emphasis of skill components may exacerbate these effects (9). Cognitive distortions are believed to play a critical role in the development and maintenance of gambling disorders (10)(11)(12)(13) and related effects is therefore important to understanding the riskiness of SGMs.…”

“…The remaining two items assessed understanding regarding the influence of skill vs. chance on outcomes, and the extent of a player's control over game outcomes. We replicate the summative score variables for SGM and EGM game understanding from Philander and Gainsbury (8).…”