Migration from social casino games to gambling: Motivations and characteristics of gamers who gamble

Gainsbury, Sally; Russell, Alex; King, Daniel L.; Delfabbro, Paul; Hing, Nerilee

doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.021

Cited by 70 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Paying SCG users reported more frequent engagement and spending in monetary gambling activities, and two-thirds of SCG payers recalled that their SCG use had preceded the involvement in financial gambling. These findings suggest that adolescents who invest money in SCGs may differ systematically from non-payers in terms of their level of interest, involvement, and expenditure in gambling, which is consistent with the differences between paying and non-paying adult SCG users (Gainsbury, Russell, et al., 2016). Underlying factors (e.g., impulsivity, poor financial literacy, and familial influences) may account for spending in SCGs; however, such variables may be complex and more difficult to observe, quantify, and monitor over time.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…(2015) reported that spending in SCGs was a unique predictor of migration from SCGs to online gambling. Another study of 521 adult SCG users found that 10% reported that their gambling involvement had increased as a result of SCGs and 19% reported that they had gambled as a direct result of these games (Gainsbury, Russell, King, Delfabbro, & Hing, 2016). A recent study by Kim, Hollingshead, and Wohl (2016) surveyed 302 social casino gamers and reported that participants who made micro-transactions reported higher problem gambling severity and increased impulsivity and reward sensitivity, suggesting that spending in these activities may be associated with additional risks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The cost of virtual wins: An examination of gambling-related risks in youth who spend money on social casino games

King¹,

Russell²,

Gainsbury³

et al. 2016

J Behav Addict

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Background and aimsSocial casino games (SCGs) are not technically considered a form of gambling but they do enable players to spend money in a game that is gambling themed or structurally approximate to gambling. It has been theorized that SCGs could be a gateway to gambling activities or otherwise normalize the experience of gambling for young people, particularly when money becomes involved. The aim of this study was to investigate whether adolescents’ financial expenditure in SCGs was associated with broader gambling activity, including level of participation, expenditure, and problem gambling symptoms.Methods An online survey was administered to 555 adolescents, including 130 SCG players (78 non-paying and 52 paying users).Results Paying SCG users tended to be employed males who play more frequently and engage in more SCG activities, who report more symptoms of problem gambling and higher psychological distress than non-paying SCG users. Paying SCG users reported more frequent engagement and spending in monetary gambling activities, and two-thirds of SCG payers recalled that their SCG use had preceded involvement in financial gambling.Discussion and conclusions Spending in simulated gambling activities by adolescents may be a risk factor for problem gambling. Although SCGs may currently defy classification as a form of gambling, these activities will likely continue to be scrutinized by regulators for the use of dubious or exploitative payment features offered in a gambling-themed format that is available to persons of all ages.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The cost of virtual wins: An examination of gambling-related risks in youth who spend money on social casino games

King¹,

Russell²,

Gainsbury³

et al. 2016

J Behav Addict

Self Cite

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“…We recognize that social gaming companies are not currently required to provide warnings or any other consumer protection measures. Although most users are likely to use games without any difficulties, initial research in this field has uncovered a small proportion of users who engage in excessive game use leading to significant harms, as well as users migrating to gambling products from social casino games (Gainsbury, Hing, Delfabbro, Dewar, & King, ; Gainsbury, King, Russell, & Delfabbro, ; Gainsbury, Russell, et al, ). We therefore recommend that the social gaming industry embraces the corporate social responsibility standards of the gambling industry, recognizes the potential harms of advertisements accessible by young people, and includes warning messages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Young adults are exposed to gambling advertisements when playing social casino games, as well as social casino game advertisements when gambling (Gainsbury, King, et al, ). In a recent study of 521 adult social casino gamers, almost one‐fifth reported that they had gambled for money as a direct result of these games (Gainsbury, Russell, King, Delfabbro, & Hing, ). This was more common among males, younger users, and those more involved in social casino games.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gambling Games on Social Platforms: How Do Advertisements for Social Casino Games Target Young Adults?

Abarbanel¹,

Gainsbury²,

King³

et al. 2016

Policy &Amp; Internet

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Social casino gaming, which simulates gambling games on social platforms, has become increasingly popular and is rapidly merging with the gambling industry. Advertisements for social casino games, however, are not bound by the same regulations as real money gambling, despite their similarities. We performed a content analysis of a sample of 115 unique social casino gaming advertisements captured by young adults during their regular Internet use. The results showed that the advertisement imagery typically featured images likely to appeal to young adults, such as bright colors, character images of young adults, cartoon animal characters, gambling and sporting activities, references to popular culture, and references to Las Vegas. Latent and manifest message themes included glamorization of gambling, winning, normalization of gambling, play for free, and a general encouragement to play. Notably, nearly 90 percent of the advertisements contained no responsible or problem gambling language, despite the gambling‐like content. As young people are receptive of messages that encourage gambling, we recommend that gaming companies recognize the potential harms of advertisements and embrace corporate social responsibility standards. This includes adding warning messages to advertisements for gambling‐themed games and ensuring that marketing messages do not encourage excessive gambling.

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“…As such, activities which utilise virtual items are not considered gambling in law 1 . This position is one which has been questioned, both in relation to loot boxes (Baglin, 2017;Griffiths, 2018), and other gambling-like experiences associated with games (Gainsbury, Hing, Delfabbro, and King, 2014;King et al, 2014;Gainsbury et al, 2016).…”

Section: Legal Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

eSports, skins and loot boxes: Participants, practices and problematic behaviour associated with emergent forms of gambling

Macey

Hamari

2018

New Media & Society

174

198

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Twenty years since the internet transformed gambling products and services, the convergence of online games and gambling has initiated a new means of consuming internet-based media.Gambling specifically connected to esports is a significant development, offering not only a new avenue for existing gambling products to be inserted into gaming media, but also affording several novel experiences (e.g. skins and loot boxes). This study assesses participation rates and demographic characteristics of esports spectators who gamble via an international online survey (N=582). The sample highlighted the prevalence of young, often under-age, males in esportsrelated gambling activities. Participation in gambling, and gambling-like activities, was found to be 67%, with rates of problematic and potentially problematic gambling in the sample being 50.34%. Finally, increased gambling is associated with increased spectating of esports. Although the results are not generalisable to the wider population, they suggest a need for increased attention, from academia and regulators, regarding newly-emergent gambling behaviours in contemporary digital culture.

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Migration from social casino games to gambling: Motivations and characteristics of gamers who gamble

Cited by 70 publications

References 22 publications

The cost of virtual wins: An examination of gambling-related risks in youth who spend money on social casino games

The cost of virtual wins: An examination of gambling-related risks in youth who spend money on social casino games

Gambling Games on Social Platforms: How Do Advertisements for Social Casino Games Target Young Adults?

eSports, skins and loot boxes: Participants, practices and problematic behaviour associated with emergent forms of gambling

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