Session Title

Session 1-2-E: A Look Inside the Gambling Mind

Presentation Type

Event

Location

The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Start Date

7-6-2016 10:30 AM

End Date

7-6-2016 12:00 PM

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Mental and Social Health | Psychology

Abstract

According to the psycho-structural interaction model, the interaction between structural characteristics of a gambling game and player’s characteristics could foster the development of gambling problems. Those interactions may vary according to the types of game played. This study aims to compare poker and video lottery terminals players (VLTs) on six psychological characteristics (narcissism, sensation seeking, depression, anxiety, cognitive distortions and problem gambling severity) and to examine cognitive distortions as a mediator between personality/mood disturbance and problem gambling severity. The sample consisted of 191 poker players and 81 VLT players. Standard assessments were completed online and by phone within a cross-sectional design. As compared to the VLT group, the poker group mean scores were higher on narcissism and sensation seeking but lower on depression. Multi-group measurement invariance analysis show non-invariance between poker and VLT players. Mediation analysis revealed an indirect effect of narcissism on problem gambling severity for both groups. Narcissism effect on problem gambling severity scores was mediated by cognitive distortions. However, for VLT players only, cognitive distortions positively mediated the effect of depression scores on problem gambling severity. Findings illustrate the differences between groups and show the importance of considering players’ characteristics according to their preferred type of game. This study supports the development of explanatory theories of gambling behavior that take into account specific gambling contexts. The implications for clinical management are discussed.

Keywords

Problem gambling, psycho-structural interaction, poker, video lottery terminal, narcissism, sensation seeking, depression, anxiety, cognitive distortions.

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Jun 7th, 10:30 AM Jun 7th, 12:00 PM

Narcissism, Sensation Seeking, Depression, Anxiety, and Cognitive Distortions: Comparative Analysis Between Poker and Video Lottery Terminal Players

The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

According to the psycho-structural interaction model, the interaction between structural characteristics of a gambling game and player’s characteristics could foster the development of gambling problems. Those interactions may vary according to the types of game played. This study aims to compare poker and video lottery terminals players (VLTs) on six psychological characteristics (narcissism, sensation seeking, depression, anxiety, cognitive distortions and problem gambling severity) and to examine cognitive distortions as a mediator between personality/mood disturbance and problem gambling severity. The sample consisted of 191 poker players and 81 VLT players. Standard assessments were completed online and by phone within a cross-sectional design. As compared to the VLT group, the poker group mean scores were higher on narcissism and sensation seeking but lower on depression. Multi-group measurement invariance analysis show non-invariance between poker and VLT players. Mediation analysis revealed an indirect effect of narcissism on problem gambling severity for both groups. Narcissism effect on problem gambling severity scores was mediated by cognitive distortions. However, for VLT players only, cognitive distortions positively mediated the effect of depression scores on problem gambling severity. Findings illustrate the differences between groups and show the importance of considering players’ characteristics according to their preferred type of game. This study supports the development of explanatory theories of gambling behavior that take into account specific gambling contexts. The implications for clinical management are discussed.