Psychopathology of Online Poker Players: Review of Literature

Abstract

Background and aimsOnline Texas Hold’em poker has become a spectacular form of entertainment in our society, and the number of people who use this form of gambling is increasing. It seems that online poker activity challenges existing theoretical concepts about problem gambling behaviors. The purpose of this literature review is to provide a current overview about the population of online poker players.MethodsTo be selected, articles had to focus on psychopathology in a sample of online poker players, be written in English or French, and be published before November 2015. A total of 17 relevant studies were identified.ResultsIn this population, the proportion of problematic gamblers was higher than in other forms of gambling. Several factors predicting excessive gambling were identified such as stress, internal attribution, dissociation, boredom, negative emotions, irrational beliefs, anxiety, and impulsivity. The population of online poker players is largely heterogeneous, with experimental players forming a specific group. Finally, the validity of the tools used to measure excessive or problematic gambling and irrational beliefs are not suitable for assessing online poker activity.Discussion and conclusionsFuture studies need to confirm previous findings in the literature of online poker games. Given that skills are important in poker playing, skill development in the frames of excessive use of online poker should be explored more in depth, particularly regarding poker experience and loss chasing. Future research should focus on skills, self-regulation, and psychopathology of online poker players.

Cognitive Characteristics of Strategic and Non-strategic Gamblers

“…The first limit of the study is linked to the population (Moreau, Chabrol, & Chauchard, 2016). The online recruitment of gamblers made it difficult to reach individuals who gamble regularly on games that are principally practiced off-line (e.g.…”

The preferences in capital allocation among economics students in Poland. Investments on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and forex in comparison to a poker game

“…Poker is a card game which was created in the United States in the 1820s (Moreau & Chabrol, 2016) and is the most popular card game in the world (Loon, Assem, & Dolder, 2015). In short words, this is a game where from two to 10 players are dealt cards, and where they bet on who has 'the best hand'.…”

Can We Expect More Students Dropping out of Education to Play Poker or Has Online Poker Become too Challenging?

“…The skill element and the way the betting is organized together make it possible for some players to win in the long run unlike most forms of gambling (Bjerg, 2010;Laakasuo, Palomäki, & Salmela, 2015;McCormack & Griffiths, 2011). This is one of the main motivations for the players, but to develop these skills in poker requires substantial invested time than any other form of gambling (Laakasuo et al, 2015;Moreau, Chabrol, & Chauchard, 2016;Recher & Griffiths, 2012). As a result several studies have showed that poker may produce a new type of problem gambler, one who does not struggle financially, but instead spend so much time on poker that other parts of their life is affected, such as work, their relationships with others, and their education (Barrault, Untas, & Varescon, 2014;Biolcati et al, 2015;Bjerg, 2010;Griffiths, Parke, Wood, & Rigbye, 2010;Hing, Holdsworth, Tiyce, & Breen, 2014;Hing, Russell, Blaszczynski, & Gainsbury, 2015;Hopley & Nicki, 2010;Laakasuo et al, 2015;Shead, Hodgins, & Scharf, 2008).…”

“…Treatment centers in Denmark report an increase of young poker players in need of treatment from virtually no patients in 2003 to 33% of their patients in 2009 (Bjerg, 2010). In a French survey 20% of the patients in a gambling treatment center were poker players, including 75% of the online players (Venisse & Grall-Bronnec, as cited in Moreau et al, 2016).…”