The Influence of Locus of Control and Sensation Seeking Among Undergraduate Texas Hold’em Players

Abstract

Texas Hold'em poker has become increasingly popular on university and college campuses. However, not much is known about personality correlates of engaging in Hold'em, which is commonly seen as more skill-based compared to other forms of gambling. The current study sought to determine where, how much, and which students are playing Hold'em, and to further distinguish these patterns among gamblers. The current study describes Canadian university students' Hold'em-specific behaviour and beliefs, as well as determines whether locus of control and sensation seeking traits independently correlate with and predict gambling behaviour among a university sample. Undergraduate students (N = 96) completed an online questionnaire containing Rotter's Internality-Externality scale (I-E), the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) and the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). Participants played a round of Hold'em in lab and answered a survey about their perception of Hold'em and of the game they played. Sensation seeking and external locus of control were significantly positively correlated with gambling pathology. Participants overestimated the number of hands played and the time spent playing Hold'em. There was a significant positive correlation between gambling pathology and gambling success. The I-E and boredom susceptibility sensation seeking subscale significantly predicts some problem/pathological gambling. The current study suggests that more pathological gamblers display higher levels of sensation seeking and a more external locus of control than nonproblem gamblers, and that the type of gambling activity and setting in which gambling occurs should be considered in future research looking at personality characteristics of certain problem/pathological gamblers.

Understanding sports betting among young male student-teachers in Ghana

“…His friend introduced him, as a minor, to sports betting at the SHS level, which confirms the study of Ofosu and Kotey (2020). This gambler is seriously hooked to betting pathology (Shumlich et al, 2017) as he often moved out to bet on sports from school. During preps, he sneaked out to satisfy his betting addiction to sports, leading to the detriment of his studies.…”

“…They may lie, cheat, and even steal to satisfy their betting activities (Custer & Milt, 1985). They have also endorsed greater sensation seeking and may experience a loss of control over their gambling behaviours (Shumlich et al, 2017). The sole difference from professional bettors is that they show emotional attachment to their leisure activity because of their habit and social norm (Acheampong, 2021(Acheampong, , 2019Lamont & Hing, 2018).…”

“…Enjoying his leisure pursuit as a casual social bettor (Custer & Milt, 1985), the respondent suddenly became engrossed in sports betting after spending two years in the university. The ''betting spirit'' affects his self-control, leading him to become seriously hooked to betting pathology (Shumlich et al, 2017). The respondent has become embedded to gambling to where it has taken over every aspect of his life.…”

“…However, his friend's inclination towards stealing to spend on sports betting provided negative feedback to him. His friend, a gambler, is a compulsive bettor who shows emotional attachment of habit and a norm towards sports betting can link him to gambling pathology (Acheampong et al, 2019;Lamont & Hing, 2018;Shumlich et al, 2017).…”