The Relevance and Role of Gaming Machine Games and Game Features on the Play of Problem Gamblers REPORT Prepared for: Independent Gambling Authority South Australia Prepared under the auspices of Australian Institute for Primary Care (AIPC) La Trobe University by Charles Livingstone PhD (Department of Health Sciences, Monash University) and Richard Woolley PhD (Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies University of Western Sydney) with Miss Tsharni Zazryn (Department of Health Sciences, Monash University), Ms Lisa Bakacs (AIPC, La Trobe University) and Roland Shami PhD (Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics, Monash University) January 2008 EGM games and game features Report Copyright notice © Independent Gambling Authority, 2008 This publication is copyright. 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Postal Address ____________________________________ Australian Institute for Primary Care Faculty of Health Sciences La Trobe University Victoria 3086 Bundoora Campus ____________________________________ Level 5 Health Sciences Building 2 La Trobe University Telephone: (61-3) 9479 3700 Facsimile: (61-3) 9479 5977 Email: [email protected] Online ____________________________________ http://www.latrobe.edu.au/aipc Disclaimer: This study, whilst embodying the best efforts of the researchers, is an expression of the issues considered most relevant, and neither the AIPC, the researchers, nor La Trobe University can be held responsible for any consequences that ensue from the use of the information in this Report. Neither the AIPC, the investigators, nor La Trobe University make any warranty or guarantee regarding the contents of the Report, and any warranty is disavowed except to the extent that statute makes it unavoidable. i EGM games and game features Report Contents Contents.................................................................................................................................................. 1 Tables and Figures ................................................................................................................................ 3 Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................ 5 Glossary of Acronyms........................................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 7 Implications of the review of literature.................................................................................. 7 Characteristics of the South Australian EGM industry.......................................................... 9 High performing gaming machines........................................................................................ 9 Regular gambler survey ....................................................................................................... 11 Researching EGM game features with problem gamblers................................................... 12 Key research questions......................................................................................................... 13 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 20 1.1 Project background................................................................................................... 20 1.2 Conduct of the project and limitations ..................................................................... 21 1.3 Review of literature and relevant research............................................................... 23 1.4 EGM technology and consumer safety .................................................................... 35 1.5 Overview of the Report............................................................................................ 40 2. Comparative EGM performance in South Australia .............................................................. 41 2.1 Broad parameters of EGM gambling in South Australia – comparison and interpretation ........................................................................................................................ 41 2.2 Data relating to high performance EGM games....................................................... 49 2.4 Data relating to EGM game performance at local levels ......................................... 59 2.5 Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 62 3. Telephone survey ........................................................................................................................ 65 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 65 3.2 Survey respondents.................................................................................................. 65 3.3 Descriptive survey results ........................................................................................ 69 3.4 Statistical results....................................................................................................... 85 3.5 Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 92 4. Researching EGM game features with problem gamblers ..................................................... 95 4.1 Methodology and related issues............................................................................... 95 4.2 EGM technology: Problem gambler accounts ......................................................... 98 4.3 Other themes emerging from qualitative data collection ....................................... 108 4.4 Some observations on Dolphin Treasure and Indian Dreaming ............................ 112 4.5 Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 114 5. Conclusions and discussion...................................................................................................... 119 5.1 Response to research questions.............................................................................. 119 5.2 General observation arising from the research....................................................... 127 Appendix A ........................................................................................................................................ 129 Details of sites for focus groups and interviews ................................................................ 129 Appendix B Schedules to guide focus group and individual discussions................................. 130 Basic information:.............................................................................................................. 130 Discussion schedule – EGM gamblers............................................................................... 131 Appendix C Literature review and references........................................................................... 134 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 134 Gaming Machines & Problem Gambling........................................................................... 134 Recent approaches to the study of problem gambling ....................................................... 135 EGM Features & Problem Gambling Behaviour ............................................................... 141 1 EGM games and game features Report Harm minimisation strategies............................................................................................. 147 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 154 Implications of literature for current research.................................................................... 157 Appendix D Telephone survey script .......................................................................................... 160 Appendix E Logistic regression analysis,