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This systematic review of research on gambling sponsorship provides insight into the current state of the art of gambling sponsorship research, a theoretical framework for understanding the mechanisms underlying gambling sponsorship's effects, and a future research agenda to guide advertising scholars. Literature searches in Scopus and Web of Science resulted in a total of 46 publications that focus on gambling sponsorships, which can be grouped into three research clusters: exposure, impact, and ethics of gambling sponsorships. The review shows that extant research has mainly focused on sports sponsorships by gambling companies and that these sports sponsorships are omnipresent in the lives of both adults and minors. Although a positive association between exposure to gambling sports sponsorships and consumers' gambling attitudes and intentions may be assumed, causal and longitudinal research investigating the impacts of gambling sponsorships is limited. The review also shows that there is a lack of theory explaining consumers' responses to gambling sponsorships, although the gambling industry is a very specific industry and gambling sponsorships can be considered unhealthy sponsorships. We therefore propose a theoretical framework to better understand how gambling sponsorship works, which may guide future research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is dedicated to highlighting current issues in the legislative regulation of the organization and conduct of gambling in Ukraine, as well as finding optimal solutions to these problems. Based on the conducted analysis, it is stated that the legislative regulation of public relations in the field of gambling is characterized by a wide range of issues, including deficiencies in the conceptual and categorical apparatus, insufficiently clear general requirements for gambling organizers, and the absence of requirements aimed at ensuring the stable operation of gambling establishments under conditions of unstable power supply. Directions for improving the conceptual and categorical apparatus of Ukrainian gambling legislation are outlined. The author formulates a definition of the term «gambling.» The types of gambling are systematized, the shortcomings of their legislative description are identified, and the necessity of legally defining lotteries as a type of gambling is substantiated. It is concluded that the general requirements for the subjects organizing and conducting gambling are insufficiently coordinated, particularly the requirements regarding their impeccable business reputation. It is proposed to establish a licensing requirement for the impeccable business reputation of legal entities intending to conduct business activities in the field of gamblin g. The article pays special attention to the problem of ensuring the uninterrupted functioning of gambling establishments under conditions of constant stabilization and emergency power outages. It is emphasized that during such outages, the operation of electronic and technical equipment in casinos and gaming halls is significantly disrupted, making it impossible to record the current state and results of games, fairly calculate winnings, and monitor draws online. In this regard, it is proposed to establish a legislative requirement for the mandatory equipping of casino and gaming hall establishments with backup power sources. To improve the administrative and legal foundations of the organization and conduct of gambling, the article proposes a comprehensive review of sectoral legislation to ensure its consistency, completeness of regulation, adequacy to modern realities, and compliance with the main trends of gambling development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retail investors' gambling preferences can affect the performance and turnover of IPO firms. Research on the relationship between IPO underperformance and turnover from the gambling preference perspective is very limited. Empirical results on gambling preferences show that it leads to the underperformance of IPO firms. IPO underperformance disappears after controlling for gambling preferences or turnover. For stocks with low gambling preferences, IPO underperformance and the turnover effect are almost negligible. They become significantly stronger as gambling preferences increase. It illustrates that turnover's impact on IPO underperformance essentially comes from gambling preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of microtransactions as a form of monetization of game content and further gamification of digital games and video games. The relationship between gambling and monetized video games is considered, as well as the essence of gamblification of video games as a form of media convergence and the practice of spreading gambling in society. The main subject of the study is the question of whether the use of monetized game content leads to gambling addiction, since, unlike gambling, which under the laws of most countries is allowed to be accessed upon reaching the age of majority, monetized game content does not have age restrictions, and thus can affect not yet formed child (adolescent) psyche. Despite the fact that microtransactions in the gaming industry can provide additional streams to support video game development, research also shows the presence of so-called «predatory» monetization schemes. The article presents experimental studies of simulated gambling (such as social casino games, loot box purchases, etc.) by adolescents and their transition to gambling after reaching adulthood. Emphasis is placed on various approaches to gamification of digital and video games. From the position that microtransactions in video games do not affect later cognitive behavior and do not lead to gambling tendencies, to the fact that microtransactions have a negative effect on video game culture because they not only lead to addiction, but also create an imbalance in the gaming community. The latter is explained by the fact that it often takes several tens of hours to achieve something in a digital game, microtransactions allow you to reduce this time to a minimum for a certain amount of money. In any case, this issue is difficult not only from a social and psychological point of view, but also from a legal and economic point of view, and therefore requires additional research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: This is the first nation‐wide register study based on a total population sample measuring the gender‐specific incidences of chronic diseases and conditions among adults diagnosed with gambling disorder (GD). Design, setting and participants: The study used aggregated data for 2011–22 retrieved from the Register of Primary Health Care visits, Care Register for Health Care and Care Register for Social Welfare, including specialized outpatient and inpatient health care, inpatient social care and institutional care and housing services with 24‐hour or part‐time assistance, set in mainland Finland. Participants comprised people aged 18–90+ years with GD diagnosis [corresponding to pathological gambling, International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD‐10) code F63.0, n = 3605; men n = 2574, women n = 1031] and the general population (n = 4 374 192). Measurements: Incidences of somatic diseases and psychiatric disorders were calculated for the people with diagnosed GD and for the general population, separately for women and men. Findings After standardizing for age, the incidence of each diagnostic group was systematically higher for people with GD compared with the general population, except for cancer. The highest standardized incidence ratio (SIR) values were for psychiatric disorders [SIR = 234.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 226.1–242.4], memory disorders (SIR = 172.1; 95% CI = 119.1–234.8), nervous system diseases (SIR = 162.8; 95% CI = 152.8–173.1), chronic respiratory diseases (SIR = 150.6; 95% CI = 137.6–164.2), diabetes (SIR = 141.4; 95% CI = 127.9–155.5) and digestive diseases (SIR = 134.5; 95% CI = 127.1–142.2). Conclusions: In Finland, the incidence of chronic diseases and conditions among people with gambling disorder is higher compared with the general population, apart from cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our commentary article continues the discussion recently initiated by Smith et al. on the relationship between gambling and professional football in England. In their vital contribution to Soccer and Society, they argue that a reconsideration of the relationship between football and gambling is required, highlighting the importance of prevention schemes of gambling harms for athletes, and maintaining the integrity of football. We respond by arguing that a reconsideration of the relationship between English football and gambling must go further to reduce the risk of harms to all stakeholders. The expansive, neo-liberal nature of the gambling market has rendered gambling omnipresent within English football, with the volume of gambling-related marketing in the game giving rise to concerns of harms which could be experienced by stakeholders. A full reconsideration of the harmful intersections between football and gambling would involve a significant change in regulation at societal level, thus protecting stakeholders and maintaining integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study investigates how nationalist sentiments enable the gambling industry to capitalize on national markets. With the help of qualitative content analytical tools, we analyzed 500 curated social media posts targeting Finnish and Swedish audiences. The study compared narrative templates, identifying speaker positions (inside/outside sociocultural context) and types of nationalist connotations (surface-level/in-depth). The results are displayed in a four-field matrix that reveals that Finland’s state gambling monopoly, Veikkaus, leverages ‘cultural nationalism’ to highlight its social role, portraying itself as a supporter of Finnish values, sports, and civil society. In contrast, international gambling companies and former domestic monopolies in Sweden’s license-based regulatory system use more mechanical, ‘sports-nationalist’ symbols, though the former monopoly companies occasionally refer to traditional Swedish cultural identity symbols. Compared to Veikkaus, the Swedish operators approach the national market as commercial outsiders, seeking public trust through sports associations. The study sheds light on how regulatory systems shape digital capitalist strategies for targeting national consumers on the social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe mistaken belief that personal control can affect the outcomes of random events is seen as a core part of disordered gamblers’ irrational beliefs via the ‘illusion of control’. The present study tests the extent of action-based manifestation of the illusion of control in a dice-rolling game, which provides a novel controlled test of a claim first made by Henslin that craps gamblers tend to shake their dice harder when aiming for higher numbers. We also tested participants’ recent involvement in gambling games and rates of disordered gambling symptomology as two theoretically-informed potential moderators of any effect. An incentivized dice-rolling experiment was programmed for participants’ mobile devices, where device accelerometer data was used to animate the effects of their shaking and to record the dependent variable of shaking strength. 1,692 US-Based participants (Mean age 37.1; 60.7% male) completed 24 trials each, across which the target number that they would win a $1 bonus if rolled was varied from one to six. Participants rolled the dice 4.1% harder for the highest- (six) compared to lowest-number (one). However, the effect did not vary based on participants’ recent engagement with various gambling games, and also did not correlate with gamblers’ Problem Gambling Severity Index scores. These results uniquely demonstrate a small Henslin effect, but also challenge theoretical accounts that illusion of control effects should be higher in people with greater familiarity with a given situation (i.e. relevant gambling games), or who have higher levels of disordered gambling symptomatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is part of a project funded by the Ministry of Consumption (2023) and aims to ascertain the prevalence of gambling and betting, its abuse and addiction among university students at the University of Alicante, both with and without disabilities. Furthermore, the study aims to ascertain their perceptions of risky behaviours in online gambling and betting. A total of 370 students participated in the study by completing a questionnaire. The findings indicated that students do not engage in gambling frequently, with a greater gambling habit observed among the group with disabilities. It would be beneficial for the university to provide counselling and support services that are specifically designed to prevent gambling problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Umsatzsteuer-Rundschau is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Gender differences in problem gambling have attracted much attention in recent gambling literature. However, relatively little is known about how gender norms relate to social strain and self-control in predicting gambling disorder within a spousal context. This study aimed to increase knowledge about gambling disorder in Chinese married couples by assessing the threeway interaction effects between social strain, self-control, and gender norms. Methods: A total of 1,620 Chinese married couples were recruited from a representative sample of households in Hong Kong. Results: The results of the generalized ordered logit model revealed the selfcontrol mitigation effect of composite strain on the propensity for gambling disorder is strong in men who accept traditional gender norms. In contrast, in women who accept traditional gender roles, self-control attenuates the effect of recent stressful life events on the propensity for gambling disorder, but selfcontrol exacerbates the effect of negative relationships with offspring on the propensity for gambling disorder. Discussion: Although reinforcing self-control is a protective factor that can alleviate social strain and disordered gambling for both men and women, the prominent contribution of gender norms to the self-control exacerbation effect deserves close attention for social workers who provide services to these gambling families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals were asked to perform costly actions to reduce harm to strangers, even while the general population, including authorities and experts, grappled with the uncertainty surrounding thenovel virus. Many studies have examined health decision-making by experts, but the study of lay, non-expert, individual decisionmaking on a stranger's health has been left to the wayside, as ordinary citizens are usually not tasked with such decisions. Methods: We sought to capture a snapshot of this specific choice behavior by administering two surveys to the general population in the spring of 2020, when much of the global community was subject to COVID-19-related restrictions, as well as uncertainty surrounding the virus. We presented study participants with fictitious diseases varying in severity that threatened oneself, a loved one or a stranger. Participants were asked to choose between treatment options that could either provide a sure, but mild improvement (sure option) or cure the affected person at a given probability of success (risky option). Results: Respondents preferred gambles overall, but risk-seeking decreased progressively with higher expected severity of disease. This pattern was observed regardless of the recipient's identity. Distinctions between targets emerged however whendecisions were conditioned on a treatment's monetary cost, with participants preferring cheaper options for strangers. Discussion: Overall, these findings provide a descriptive model of individual decision-making under risk for others; and inform on the limits of what can be asked of an individual in service to a stranger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, promotional competitions are a common form of advertising, used by companies to encourage purchase, foster brand loyalty, and build market research databases. While many people enter these competitions casually and infrequently, some people, known as 'compers', enter regularly and diligently. This article explores the affective benefits associated with entering competitions through ethnography with members of the comping website lottos.com.au. I describe how entering competitions afforded compers various thrills, experiences wherein positive ideas about an uncertain future innervated the present. When experiencing these thrills regularly, comping could produce a sense of potentiality, 'unsticking' compers from experiences, often gendered, of dullness, difficulty, or drudgery. I analyse compers' cultivation of this potentiality in relation to the cultural specificities of mainstream Australia, wherein ideas and expectations about the future likewise animate the present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russian Roulette is a well-known cruel gambling game and its concepts and methods have been exploited in a lot of research fields for decades. However, abundant useful information contained in the process of Russian Roulette is seldom studied with a mathematical model with interpretability. To this end, we define the 2 R formal context to model Russian Roulette and carry out 3-valued concept analysis for 2 R formal contexts to mine useful information. At first, the uniqueness of 2 R formal contexts is discussed from a formal concept analysis viewpoint. And then we propose 3-valued 2 R concepts and discuss their properties and the connections with the basic 2 R concepts. Experimental analysis demonstrates that 3-valued 2 R concept lattices can show many more different details compared with basic 2 R concept lattices. Finally, a case study about a Chinese herbal medicine is introduced to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper advances debates at the intersection of geographies of children, youth and families, digital geographies, and geographies of home. We argue that social, seasonal and limited time are vitally important for understanding the new landscape between gaming and gambling and have wider analytical purchase for geographers. This paper reveals parenting practices connected to the multi-billion-dollar industry of paid-for currency in digital games used to access gambling style systems and chance-based mechanisms such as loot boxes. We use this timely example to develop new digital geographies of home from original interviews with families based in England on their everyday lived experiences of gambling-style systems in digital games as well as data from video ethnographies with children and young people and interviews with international game designers. This paper challenges current understandings by examining how parents make sense of gambling-related harms and demonstrates the spatial and temporal dynamics of purchasing decisions, rules, and associated conflicts in domestic space. We argue these systems in digital games shape and are shaped by family geographies. This paper concludes by outlining its relevance for the social and health sciences at a time of intense legislative interest in the increasingly blurred space between gaming and gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: UK‐based gambling policymakers have proposed affordability checks starting at monthly losses of £125. The present study combines open banking data with self‐reports of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) and other relevant information to explore the harm profiles of people who gamble at different levels of electronic gambling behaviour. Design, setting and participants: This was a data fusion study in which participants consented to share their bank data via an open banking application programming interface (API) and who also completed relevant self‐report items. Hierarchical hurdle models were used to predict being an at‐risk gambler (PGSI > 0) and being a 'higher‐risk' gambler (higher PGSI scores among those with non‐zero scores) using four specifications of electronic gambling behaviour (net‐spend, outgoing expenditure, incoming withdrawals, interaction model combining expenditure and withdrawals), and by adding self‐reported data across two additional steps. The study took place in the United Kingdom. Participants were past‐year people who gamble (n = 424), recruited via Prolific. Measurements: Self‐report measures were used of gambling‐related harm (PGSI), depression [Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ‐9)], age and gender; bank‐recorded measures of income and electronic gambling behaviour. Findings Unharmed gamblers had an average monthly gambling net‐spend of £16.41, compared with £208.91 among highest‐risk gamblers (PGSI ≥ 5). Being an at‐risk gambler (PGSI > 0) was predicted significantly by all four types of gambling behaviour throughout all three steps [1.08 ≤ odds ratios (ORs) ≤ 2.92; Ps < 0.001), with only outgoing expenditure being significant in the interaction model (2.26 ≤ ORs ≤ 2.81; Ps < 0.001). Higher PHQ‐9 scores also predicted at‐risk gambling in steps 2–3 (1.09 ≤ ORs ≤ 1.10; Ps < 0.001), as did lower age (0.95 ≤ ORs ≤ 0.96; Ps < 0.001) and male gender identity in step 3 (2.51 ≤ ORs ≤ 2.95; Ps < 0.001). Being a higher‐risk gambler was predicted significantly by gambling behaviour only in the expenditure‐only (1.16 ≤ ORs ≤ 1.17; Ps ≤ 0.048) and withdrawal‐only (1.08 ≤ ORs ≤ 1.09; Ps ≤ 0.004) models, and was not predicted by income (0.98 ≤ ORs ≤ 1.14; Ps ≥ 0.601), age (0.98 ≤ ORs ≤ 0.99; Ps ≥ 0.143) or male gender identity (1.07 ≤ ORs ≤ 1.15; Ps ≥ 0.472). Conclusion: The UK government's proposed affordability checks for gamblers should rarely affect people who are not experiencing gambling‐related harm. At‐risk gambling is predicted well by different types of gambling behaviour. Novel insights about gambling can be generated by fusing self‐reported and objective data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to understand the family history of people pathologically engaging in gambling in rural Greece along with the factors and effects (suicidal thoughts/attempts) related thereto, according to participants' perspective. Qualitative in nature, the study was based on 32 semi-structured interviews carried out with adults who attended a Treatment Facility for pathological gambling in Heraklion Crete, in Greece. A past family history of excessive gambling was reported by most of the participants, while in many cases were reported a family history of alcohol misuse. Participants perceived self-characteristics, losses/traumatic experiences, paternal and nuclear family characteristics, work-related problems, peers who also gamble and upbringing practices influenced by culture as principal pathological gambling factors. Participants also reported that pathological gambling has various effects on one's psychological mood, behavior, and relationship patterns with self and others. Most participants also reported having suicidal thoughts, whereas a few of them mentioned at least one suicide attempt. The study concludes that pathological gambling in the current population is associated with a past family history of excessive gambling or alcohol misuse. Multiple factors also seem to contribute to its manifestation and to such adverse effects, such as suicidal thoughts and attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As in other areas of science, understanding in the addictions can progress by analogy, by taking concepts from a relatively well-understood area and applying them to another domain. This process helped increase our understanding of gambling, by using prior insights from substance-based addictions, and gambling has, in turn, served as an analogy for loot boxes: gambling-liked elements in video games. Although this could be a good way to make rapid initial advances, it could also limit our ability in the long-run to produce a complete understanding of the new area of inquiry. In this think piece I argue that these conceptual links did in fact limit our understanding of gambling in several ways, and that the same pattern is now becoming apparent with loot boxes. Although loot box expenditure correlates robustly with disordered gambling severity, it does not appear to correlate strongly with impulsivity, a key driver of disordered gambling symptomology. People also often gamble to try to win money, but this motivation is rarely observed with loot boxes. Instead, I argue that the enjoyment and meaning that gamers derive from games is a core motivator for loot box expenditure. Video games can bring enjoyment both directly and via the social connections they can help create, and these are motivations seen less frequently in gambling. This example can act as a warning to addiction science on the risks of proceeding via analogy too strictly, and of the need to consider the unique context of each potentially addictive behavior of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public health burden of gambling remains difficult to estimate, given the lack of relevant, available data. Death by suicide, represents a substantial and quantifiable public health cost. The current study reviews data from the National Violent Death Reporting System to detect cases where gambling was identified as a meaningful contextual factor to a death by suicide. This study is an exploratory content analysis. We analysed narrative data from cases of death by suicide, collected from 2003 to 2020 recorded in the Restricted Access Data of the National Violent Death Reporting System. Gambling-related cases identified in our analysis were compared against all other cases on demographic characteristics, case characteristics, US state, and incident year. Chi-square tests of independence and the Wilcoxon ranked sum tests were used in bivariate comparisons. Overall, 1306 of 296 317 cases were classified as gambling-related. This represented 0.44% of total cases. Gambling-related classification was over-represented among those identified as Asian (7.0% vs 2.2%) and under-represented among those identified as Black or African American (4.0% vs 6.4%) compared with all other deaths by suicide. Gambling-related cases were also over-represented in cases where alcohol use was suspected (28.0% vs 21.2%), where there were significant financial problems (50.3% vs 8.6%), where there were intimate partner problems (31.5% vs 25.6%), and under-represented in cases where there was a previous mental health diagnosis (35.1% vs 38.8%). The rate of gambling-related cases in Nevada was approximately nine times greater than the rate in the overall sample (4.0% vs 0.44%). Administrative data can be used to study the impacts of gambling on public health in the absence of quality representative survey data. However, these sources are still likely to underestimate the public health burden of gambling with current structures and procedures. Requiring intentional collection of gambling-related information in cases of suicide would be a significant step towards better quantifying the public health burden of gambling in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard casino games such as roulette offer (almost) symmetric 50%-50% bets in a menu with numerous positively skewed gambles (with equal expected value). It is challenging to rationalize the popularity of casino gambling with traditional risk preferences. Yet, it is even more challenging to explain a more specific point that gamblers often choose (almost) symmetric 50%-50% gambles when casino offers positively skewed gambles. In this paper, we demonstrate that many well-known theories of decision making under risk cannot explain the finding that people place (almost) symmetric 50%-50% bets in roulette gambling. An expected utility maximizer either does not gamble on roulette at all (when utility function is concave or linear) or prefers to gamble on the longest possible shot and avoids (almost) symmetric 50%-50% bets (when utility function is sufficiently convex). Similarly, in Yaari's dual model, a decision maker either does not gamble on roulette (when probability weighting function is convex or linear) or gambles on the longest possible shot avoiding (almost) symmetric 50%-50% bets (when probability weighting function is sufficiently concave in the neighborhood of zero probability). In Viscusi's prospective reference theory, it can be optimal to gamble on several roulette numbers (rather than on one number) but not on one half of roulette numbers. A gambler who maximizes prospect theory never places a single bet on one half of roulette numbers due to the assumption of loss aversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Voluntary self-exclusion (VSE) programmes are intended to minimise gambling-related harm. They are considered effective for the individual but several weaknesses have been reported that deter individuals from enrolment. The present paper summarises opinions about and experiences with VSE strategies and assesses gaps and needs with regard to the current self-exclusion regulations and programmes in seven jurisdictions. Methods: A total of 102 representatives from various sectors (research community; addiction help and care services; prevention; regulatory bodies; gambling providers) in Finland, Germany, Italy, Massachusetts (USA), Norway, Sweden, and Victoria (Australia) were surveyed about their experiences with and opinions about VSE strategies, as well as gaps and needs of the current VSE regulations in their jurisdiction. Results: The respondents agreed on the need for and importance of VSE programmes. However, in all participating jurisdictions, VSE regulations at the time of the survey were considered insufficient, and the respondents suggested potential improvements to facilitate the exclusion process, increase utilisation and reduce gamblers' breaching VSE. Representatives of the gambling industry also emphasised the individual's responsibility. Conclusions: Individuals with gambling disorder require effective VSE programmes to cope with their addictive behaviour. To effectively reduce breaches, technical and legal solutions are necessary. This includes access controls based on complete nationwide registries, strict enforcement and preventing excluded gamblers from accessing unlicensed online operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Both gambling and digital gaming are growing in popularity and there is ongoing discussion about their convergence. This population-based longitudinal survey study investigated how gambling and digital gaming types contribute to at-risk gambling and gaming. Methods: The study was based on a representative sample of 18–75-year-olds from mainland Finland. Survey data were collected at 6 - month intervals in 2021–2022, starting in April 2021. Of original T1 respondents, 58.95% took part in all four time points. In total, 3,608 observations from 902 individuals were analysed. Outcome measures were at-risk gambling and gaming based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index and the Internet Gaming Disorder Test. Various types of gambling and gaming were investigated. Results: Population-averaged models showed that different forms of gambling were associated with a higher risk of at-risk gaming. Online casino games were associated with the highest likelihood of at-risk gambling and gaming. Prevalence of digital gaming problems was low. Hybrid models were used to investigate the longitudinal within-person and between-person effects of gambling and gaming activities. Online casino games and offline slot machines increased at-risk gambling. Microtransactions within digital games increased at-risk gambling and gaming over time, but the amount of money spent on digital gaming was small compared to gambling. Conclusions: Our results underline the risks of EGMs and online gambling for the participants. Although gambling and gaming are converging, harm is mostly based on gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Business Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The main aim of this study was to examine how people think about problem gambling, i.e., persistent gambling despite its negative effects, through the social representations (SRs) that they share about this issue. SRs are organized collections of beliefs, opinions, and knowledge that members of a social group have in common, and past research highlighted them as significant predictors of people's behavior, and therefore valuable for public health interventions. We investigated the content of the social representation (SR) of problem gambling in a sample of Romanians and we also aimed to examine the variations in this representation according to individuals' involvement in gambling, and the relations between these variations and life satisfaction. Sex differences were also assessed. We approached the SR content using the free association technique with the inductive stimulus "individual with problem gambling" on a convenience sample of Romanians (N = 313). Results of the comparative statistical analyses indicate significant differences in the core of this SR between groups with different positions on the variables considered. They suggest several elements of social stigmatization of people struggling with problem gambling within the SRs shared by certain groups, specifically by individuals with no gambling involvement (mostly female) and by those with low life satisfaction. Our findings indicate that the SR of individuals with gambling involvement (mostly male) is as focused on the psychological dynamics that attract and keep one's involvement in gambling, but also on its risks, including that of social exclusion. Finally, our findings indicate that individuals with high life satisfaction share a more empathic perspective on the struggles confronted by people with problem gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The rise of online gambling has brought about significant concerns, particularly regarding its impact on university students. This issue becomes even more complex when considering students with disabilities. Objectives: This research examines the gambling profile and beliefs of university students based on whether they have a disability. In turn, it seeks to identify if there is a typology of at-risk gamblers according to the disability variable. Finally, it aims to find out the prevalence of gambling among students depending on whether they have a disability and the typology of at-risk gambler. Method: A total of 704 university students (135 with disabilities and 569 without disabilities) completed the NODS Belief Questionnaire to assess problems associated with gambling and to generate a typological grouping of risk gamblers, as well as a questionnaire designed specifically for the gambler profile. Results: It was found that a small percentage of participants engage in gambling on a daily basis, with a higher frequency among students with disabilities. In addition, it was observed that the behavior and concern about financial expenditure on gambling interferes with their daily activities and is a cause for concern, with higher risk being observed to a greater extent in students with disabilities. Discussion: These data suggest the importance for universities and relevant authorities to address these problems comprehensively, providing adequate resources for students with disabilities and promoting a culture of wellbeing that discourages problematic gambling activities and encourages healthy alternatives for entertainment and stress management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gambling marketing communications create a public health risk by increasing the normalisation of gambling in sports. In a context where broad level studies report significant underage gambling, currently no evidence exists on how these communications are received by children in the Republic of Ireland (hereafter Ireland) and Northern Ireland. To build this evidence base and provide granular detail below broad level data, this study explored the sport consumption habits and views of Irish children (aged 14–17 years) on their exposure, awareness and perceptions of the relationship between sport and gambling. Methods: Drawing on a constructivist approach to data collection, 6 face-to-face focus groups were staged with a total of 51 youth sport consumers from both sides of the border region on the island of Ireland. Results: Four main themes were established. First, mediated sport consumption was predominantly via mobile social media. Second, we found that their exposure to gambling marketing was high and while frequently seen through social media channels it was also prevalent in peer-to-peer conversations and on the main street. Third, we found mixed responses on their perceptions about gambling and sport. While many felt that sport and gambling were a good fit, they were aware of the financial risks involved. Few children understood the wider social risks with gambling harm. Fourth, children were sceptical of claims made in gambling communications. These findings highlight concerns about how exposure to gambling marketing is impacting children’s views on sport and on gambling. These views need to be taken into consideration when broadcasters and sport organizations are entering into commercial associations. Conclusions: Gambling marketing is noticed by children watching mass and social media, and in the towns in the border regions of the island of Ireland. Our study provides children’s viewpoints on this topic which complements the larger quantitative studies in Ireland and Northern Ireland that highlight the growing prevalence of children and gambling. This study not only extends the literature on the exposure, awareness and perceptions of children on the island of Ireland but provides crucial evidence to public health advocates in this region demonstrating the pervasiveness of gambling communications in and around children’s spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chasing refers to the escalation of betting behaviour. It is conventionally seen when losing but can also be seen after wins. Diagnostic and screening items for gambling problems describe chasing as returning 'another day' to gamble. However, gamblers may also chase within sessions, and this is particularly relevant in online gambling. This study focused on two expressions of within-session chasing: (1) increasing the bet amount, or (2) a reduced probability of quitting the session, as a function of prior losses or wins. These expressions were examined across five online gambling products: slot machines, probability games, blackjack, video poker, and roulette. Our results showed that gamblers bet more and played longer sessions after immediate losses, but they bet less and played shorter sessions when losing cumulatively. The reversed pattern in the cumulative model may be due to financial constraints. For wins, gamblers bet more after both immediate and cumulative wins, but they also played shorter sessions. Chasing patterns were qualitatively similar by game type—with limited evidence for our hypothesis that chasing would be greatest for slot machines as an established high-risk category. Overall, chasing is multi-faceted, varying across the behavioural expressions, by the immediate or cumulative timeframe of prior outcomes, and by game type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health‐related behaviours including addictive behaviours contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. Social norm interventions appear to be a cost‐effective means of reducing addictive behaviour. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the efficacy of social norm interventions for addictive behaviours. We searched the databases Medline and PsycInfo from inception to April 2024 as well as reference lists of eligible studies and related systematic reviews for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of social norm interventions for addictive behaviours to control conditions. Out of the 11,515 potentially eligible RCTs, 52 trials with a total of 31,764 adult participants met inclusion criteria, with 45 trials targeting alcohol consumption, three trials targeting Marijuana use, two trials targeting other substance abuse and two trials targeting gambling. Overall, 37 trials were included in the random‐effects meta‐analysis. The comparison of social norm interventions to control conditions at posttreatment showed a small but statistically significant effect (g = −0.12; 95% CI = −0.22 to −0.02; p < 0.01). Risk of bias was rated low in 37 RCTs, 14 RCTs were rated as having some risk of bias concerns and one RCT was rated as having high risk of bias. Social norm interventions can be an effective intervention method for reducing substance abuse and gambling. Yet, data is largely derived from studies targeting alcohol consumption and current trials suffer from methodological and practical limitations. The small effect sizes need to be appraised in the context of cost‐effectiveness of these interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]