Why Do Individuals Engage in In-Play Sports Betting? A Qualitative Interview Study

Killick, Elizabeth A.; Griffiths, Mark D.

doi:10.1007/s10899-020-09968-9

Cited by 25 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In modern sports betting, side bets and 'in play' options mean that the final score is not the sole outcome of interest; bettors can bet on multiple outcomes that are resolved over different timescales (e.g. in soccer, which player will score the next goal) (Killick & Griffiths, 2021). In modern slot machines, the variable ratio governs delivery of monetary wins, but most games also offer rarer 'bonus features', which can be a number of free spins, or a separate 'game within a game' (Parke & Griffiths, 2006).…”

Section: Variability In Gamblingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineered highs: reward variability and frequency as potential prerequisites for behavioural addiction

Clark¹,

Zack²

2022

Preprint

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Influential learning-based accounts of substance addictions posit the attribution of incentive salience to drug-associated cues, and its escalation by the direct dopaminergic effects of drugs. In translating this account to disordered gambling, we have noted how the intermittent nature of monetary rewards in gambling (i.e. the variable ratio) may allow for analogous learning processes, via effects on dopaminergic signalling. The aim of the present article is to consider how multiple sources of reward variability operate within modern gambling products, and how similar sources of variability, as well as some novel sources of variability, also apply to other digital products implicated in behavioural addictions, including gaming, shopping, social media and online pornography. Online access to these activities facilitates not only unparalleled accessibility but also introduces novel forms of reward variability, as seen in the effects of infinite scrolls and personalized recommendations. We use the term uncertainty to refer to the subjective experience of reward variability. We further highlight two psychological factors that appear to moderate the effects of uncertainty: 1) the timecourse of uncertainty, especially with regard to its resolution, 2) the frequency of exposure, allowing temporal compression. Collectively, the evidence illustrates how qualitative and quantitative variability of reward can confer addictive potential to non-drug reinforcers by exploiting the psychological and neural processes that rely on predictability to guide reward seeking behaviour.

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Section: Variability In Gamblingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineered highs: reward variability and frequency as potential prerequisites for behavioural addiction

Clark¹,

Zack²

2022

Preprint

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“…The second increase in potential betting frequency is due to an innovation in sports betting: in-play betting. For inplay betting, the odds are not restricted to only occurring before a given sporting event starts, and additionally update dynamically over the course of the event (Killick & Griffiths, 2020;Parke, A. & Parke, 2019).…”

Section: Payout Interval and Potential Betting Frequencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural characteristics of fixed-odds sports betting products

Newall

Russell

Hing

2021

JBA

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Background and aimsA literature exists on the structural characteristics of electronic gambling machines (EGMs), which are design innovations that can promote spending excessive time and money on these games. Fixed-odds sports betting products, where bettors place sports bets against a bookmaker, have also seen significant innovations in recent years. Despite some differences between these gambling products, similar structural characteristics could also be relevant to sports betting. The aim was to review previous research on contemporary fixed-odds sports betting products, and to identify whether structural characteristics from the EGM literature are also relevant to sports betting.MethodsStructural characteristics uncovered by two influential reviews of EGMs were identified, and their relevance to fixed-odds sports betting products discussed via a narrative review.ResultsStructural characteristics of payout interval and potential betting frequency (in-play betting), multiplier potential (accumulators, complex bets, multis), win probability and payout ratio (all bets), bettor involvement (custom sports betting products, cash out), skill required (all bets), and near-misses (accumulators, complex bets, multis) were all identified in modern fixed-odds sports betting products.Discussion and conclusionsFixed-odds sports betting products have increasingly incorporated structural characteristics previously found in EGMs. Future research could further assess the extent to which these structural characteristics contribute to fixed-odds sports bettors spending excessive amounts of time and money while betting. These findings can help guide further sports betting research, contribute to an improved understanding of the potential universality of gambling product design, and inform policy.

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“…Online sports betting is an important part of the gambling industry, and offers an excellent platform to study actual financial decisions: it comprises over 40% of all online gambling (European Gaming and Betting Association, 2018), and is likely to grow in future (Parke & Parke, 2019;Rodríguez, Humphreys, & Simmons, 2017). While a form of gambling, sports betting also resembles consumer behavior (Paul & Weinbach, 2011), meaning that sports bettors tend to be recreational gamblers who consume gambling products for various reasons, such as seeking hedonic pleasure instead of merely financial gain (Cotte, 1997); and sports bettors often bet on the match to make the game appear more exciting and intense (Killick et al, 2020).…”

Section: Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Online Betting Intensity is Linked with Extraversion and Conscientiousness

Palomäki¹,

Laakasuo²,

Castrén³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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INTRODUCTION. Extraversion and conscientiousness are well-studied personality traits associated with reward processing and goal prioritization, respectively, and bear on individual differences in financial risk-taking. Using unique large datasets, we investigated the link between these traits and male online gamblers’ actual betting participation and intensity. METHODS. We combined datasets containing online horse betting data (during 2015-2016) from the Finnish monopoly betting company; administrative registry data from Statistics Finland; and personality trait measures from the Finnish Defence Forces corresponding to extraversion and conscientiousness as defined in the five-factor model. We modelled associations between these traits and betting participation (n=471,968) and intensity (n=11,217) among male horse bettors (age=36–53). RESULTS. Controlling for demographics and IQ, individuals scoring high on conscientiousness (or extraversion) were less (or more) likely to bet, and less (or more) intensive bettors – even when personality was measured 16–34 years before betting occurred. One SD personality score increase represented an annual decrease (conscientiousness) or increase (extraversion) of €570-754 in spending. CONCLUSION. Extraversion and conscientiousness are implicated in real-life financial behavior with tangible consequences for individuals. These effects are stronger than for many known demographic variables used in gambling studies, and persist up to 34 years after personality has been measured.

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Why Do Individuals Engage in In-Play Sports Betting? A Qualitative Interview Study

Cited by 25 publications

References 29 publications

Engineered highs: reward variability and frequency as potential prerequisites for behavioural addiction

Engineered highs: reward variability and frequency as potential prerequisites for behavioural addiction

Structural characteristics of fixed-odds sports betting products

Online Betting Intensity is Linked with Extraversion and Conscientiousness

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