Use of warning messages to modify gambling beliefs and behavior in a laboratory investigation.

Abstract

This laboratory study assessed the effectiveness of warning messages intended to aid in the control of gambling. Participants were 120 undergraduate students from an urban state university who reported previous gambling activity. They were recruited to play a computerized roulette game with imaginary money. Money left at the end of play was exchanged for raffle tickets for a prize drawing. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions. In the warning-message condition, participants received an educational component discussing common irrational beliefs expressed by gamblers and, while playing roulette, viewed brief messages that addressed irrational gambling beliefs. In the control condition, participants received an educational component on the history of roulette but no warning messages. Participants in the warning-message condition reported significantly fewer irrational beliefs and demonstrated less risky gambling behavior than those in the control condition.

Impact of Mode of Display and Message Content of Responsible Gambling Signs for Electronic Gaming Machines on Regular Gamblers

“…Importantly, players also indicated that pop-up messages would have a greater effect than static messages if displayed on real EGMs. These results are consistent with previous research findings that pop-up messages are associated with reductions in session length and potentially decreased gambling expenditure (Floyd et al, 2006;Ladouceur & Sevigny, 2003) and importantly extend previous findings by demonstrating an impact on actual gambling behaviour, which supports the implementation of pop-up messages as an effective mechanism to facilitate responsible gambling.…”

“…Similar to previous empirical laboratory studies (Cloutier et al, 2006;Floyd et al, 2006;Ladouceur & Sevigny, 2003) pop-up messages appear to be superior to static signs in enhancing message recall and influencing thoughts. However, this study advances the knowledge base by demonstrating the impact of pop-up messages on within-session thoughts and behaviors, and predicted future gambling behavior with a both young adult regular EGM players and more representative sample of regular EGM gamblers.…”

“…In support, a laboratory study by Monaghan and Blaszczynski (2007) found dynamic signs presented during but without interrupting play were freely recalled by 83.0% of participants compared to 15.6% of participants recalling static signs. Similarly, several other venue and laboratory based studies have reported data suggesting potential positive outcomes of pop-up signs on EGM screens during breaks in play in modifying thoughts and behaviours (see Monaghan, 2008;Cloutier et al, 2006;Floyd et al, 2006;Ladouceur & Sevigny, 2003;Schellink & Schrans, 2002). Following these findings, several jurisdictions including provinces in Canada, Australia and New Zealand have approved the display of pop-up messages on EGMs.…”

Responsible gambling signage on electronic gaming machines, before and after the implementation of the United Kingdom Gambling Act: an observational study

“…In relation to message content, the limited literature available suggests that gambling signage should contain information highlighting harms associated with gambling, including potential addictiveness, rectifying erroneous gambling-related cognitions and providing correct odds and probabilities, so that the individual is able to make an informed choice (Blaszczynski et al, 2004;Steenbergh et al, 2004;Schrans et al, 2004;Blaszczynski et al, 2005;Floyd et al, 2006;Monaghan and Blaszczynski, 2007). It is important to highlight that a recent review of the effectiveness of existing responsible gambling research found signage on EGMs to have limited value (Williams et al, 2007).…”

Disordered Gambling: The Effects of a Brief, Online Cognitive Intervention in an Australian Sample

“…Despite the successes of these methods, there is evidence to suggest that briefer cognitive interventions may be effective in reducing anxiety and fears relating to negative evaluations in social phobia, reducing the frequency and believability of negative cognitions in specific phobias, and increasing restraint and ability to manage food cravings [21] [25] found that the provision of information explaining probability resulted in increased resistance to gambling fallacies; however, this increased resistance did not translate in reducing gambling behaviour. On the other hand, Floyd, Whelan and Meyers [23] found that individuals who received a brief educational intervention prior to gambling along with brief messages addressing irrational gambling beliefs whilst gambling, reported fewer irrational beliefs and took fewer risks whilst engaging in gambling activities. It is possible that the laboratory setting and presence of a researcher mayreduce the external validity of the findings.…”