Comparing people who play casino games and people who bet on sports: Indicators of online problem gambling

What this research is about Concerns have been raised about , What you need to know given the increased accessibility. But, online gambling In this study, the researchers used online gambling can also address concerns of problem gambling. This data provided by LeoVegas to identify predictors is because online gambling allows for the collection of of online problem gambling. Being excluded from rich data on people’s actual gambling behaviours. It gambling was used as a measure of problem has also been suggested that the use of online gambling. The researchers looked at both common gambling data is more objective than other methods, and distinct risk factors between such as self-report surveys. Online gambling data players and online sports bettors. Statistical have been used to understand problem gambling in models were built with 1.2 million accounts of previous studies. LeoVegas. Indicators were included to predict exclusion from the online gambling site. There People who bet on sports may be unique compared were different risk factors for online casino players to other people who gamble. Risk factors unique to and sports bettors. The number of bets sports betting include betting on mobile devices and contributed the most to the risk of exclusion in the proportion of bets made on Saturdays. Betting sports bettors. In contrast, it was the amount of during a live sporting event is also a unique risk factor money spent for casino players. For casino players, of sports betting. In this study, the researchers looked betting on desktop computers increased the risk of at predictors of online problem gambling. They also exclusion. For sports bettors, it was gambling on looked at if these predictors are different for people mobile devices. High losses and number of denied who bet on online sports compared to those who play deposits increased the risk of exclusion for both online casino games. The researchers defined online casino players and sports bettors in a similar way. problem gambling as being excluded from a gambling site. players. All participants were also given a variable What the researchers did that showed if they were excluded, either voluntarily or by the operator. Exclusion from LeoVegas was used The researchers obtained data from an online gaming as an indicator of problem gambling. About 6% of operator called LeoVegas. In total, they obtained data players were excluded from LeoVegas. from 1.2 million accounts of people who made at least one deposit on LeoVegas. The researcher then randomly selected 70% of the participants to build their statistical models. To do so, Each participant was assigned two variables. The first they included 40 different types of variables. These was whether the participant was a casino player or variables included demographic characteristics such sports bettor. If a player bet more on the online as age, gender, and country of residence. The casino, they were classified as an online casino player. variables also included gambling behaviours, such as If they bet more on sports, they were classified as a how often and how much players bet. sports bettor. The majority (87%) were online casino

Next, the researchers randomly selected 10,000 contributed to the risk of exclusion for both casino players. Specifically, 5000 participants were online players and sports bettors. casino players and 5000 participants were sports How you can use this research bettors. They were compared on whether they had been excluded as a measure of online problem This research can be used by online gambling gambling. The statistical models were then trained to operators to identify players who may be identify people who were excluded. This was done experiencing problem gambling. This research can separately for casino players and sports bettors. inform studies on how best to intervene for people who may be experiencing problem gambling online. What the researchers found About the researchers Different variables were important predictors of problem gambling for casino players and sports Ivan Ukhov and Johan Bjurgert are affiliated with bettors. Only six out of ten of the most important LeoVegas in , . Michael Auer is variables for online casino players were found for affiliated with Neccton GmbH in Lienz, Austria. Mark sports bettors. An important variable of whether a D. Griffiths is affiliated with Nottingham Trent casino player was excluded was if their account was University in Nottingham, UK. For more information from the UK. This suggested that casino players in the about this study, please contact Ivan Ukhov at UK were more likely to be excluded than sports [email protected]. bettors. Although age and gender did play a role in Citation predicting exclusion, the contribution was small. For Ukhov, I., Bjurgert, J., Auer, M., & Griffiths, M. D. casino players, those between 25 and 30 were most (2020). Online problem gambling: A comparison of at risk. For sports bettors, it was between 30 and 40. casino players and sports bettors via predictive In terms of gambling behaviours, the number of bets modeling using behavioral tracking data. Journal of contributed the most to the risk of exclusion in sports Gambling Studies. Advance online copy. bettors. In contrast, it was the amount of money https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09964-z spent for casino players. Where people engaged in gambling as a risk factor also differed. For online Study funding casino players, betting on desktop computers No funding was declared. increased the risk of exclusion. For sports bettors, it was gambling on mobile devices. The more players engaged in online gambling, the greater their risk of About Gambling Research Exchange (GREO) exclusion. Gambling Research Exchange (GREO) has partnered with the Knowledge Mobilization Unit at York Regarding cash wagers, a wager of €90 per active day University to produce Research Snapshots. GREO is an was associated with the risk of exclusion for casino independent knowledge translation and exchange players. For sports bettors, this was €50. For casino organization that aims to eliminate harm from players, betting more than 200 times per active day gambling. Our goal is to support evidence-informed was associated with the risk of exclusion. For online decision making in safer gambling policies, standards, sports bettors, it was two times. This is because, for and practices. The work we do is intended for slot machines, people make smaller and more researchers, policy makers, gambling regulators and frequent bets. In sports betting, there is a limit on operators, and treatment and prevention service how often someone can make bets. In other words, providers. the number of bets contributed the most to problem gambling in sports bettors. In contrast, it was the Learn more about GREO by visiting greo.ca or emailing amount of money spent for casino players. The [email protected]. amount of losses and number of denied deposits

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