An Empirical Attempt to Operationalize Chasing Losses in Gambling Utilizing Account-Based Player Tracking Data

Session Title

Session 2-4-A: Predicting Problem Gambling

Presenters

Michael AuerFollow
Michael Auer, neccton
Mark Griffiths, Nottingham Trent University

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

24-5-2023 3:30 PM

End Date

24-5-2023 5:00 PM

Disciplines

Applied Behavior Analysis

Abstract

In recent years, account-based player tracking data have been utilized as a potential tool to identify problem gambling online and associated markers of harm. One established marker of harm among problem gamblers is chasing losses, and chasing losses is a key criterion for gambling disorder in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Given the paucity of research with respect to chasing losses among online casino players using account-based data, the present study developed five metrics that may be indicative of chasing behavior: These were (i) within-session chasing, (ii) across-session chasing, (iii) across-days chasing, (iv) regular gambling account depletion, and (v) frequent session depositing. The authors were given access by a European online casino to raw data of all players who had placed at least one bet or wagered at least once during December 2021 (N = 16,771 players from the UK, Spain, and Sweden). Results indicated that frequent session depositing reflected chasing losses better than any of the other four metric operationalizations used. While frequent session depositing appears to be more indicative of chasing losses than the other four metrics, all the metrics provide useful information which can be used to help identify problematic gambling behavior online. Chasing Losses is a key indicator in the identification of problematic gambling. The underlying research could help regulators and operators to increase the accuracy of their policies,

Keywords

Responsible Gaming, Player Tracking, Chasing Losses, DSM-V, Online Gambling

Author Bios

Dr. Mark Griffiths:

Dr. Mark Griffiths is Distinguished Professor of Behavioural Addiction at the Nottingham Trent University (and was Professor of Gambling Studies at NTU for 15 years, 2002-2015). He is internationally known for his work into gambling and other behavioural addictions and has won 24 national and/or international awards including the US 1994 John Rosecrance Research Prize for “outstanding scholarly contributions to the field of gambling research”, the 2003 Canadian International Excellence Award for “outstanding contributions to the prevention of problem gambling and the practice of responsible gambling”, North American 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award For Contributions To The Field Of Youth Gambling “in recognition of his dedication, leadership, and pioneering contributions to the field of youth gambling”, and the 2013 Lifetime Research Award from the US National Council on Problem Gambling for “exceptional long-standing achievement in the field of research to assist problem gamblers and their families”. He has been researching in the area of gambling for 35 years and has published over 1250 research papers, six books, over 170 book chapters, and over 1500 other articles (full CV available on request). As noted above, Professor Griffiths co-developed the behavioural tracking tool mentor (with Dr. Auer) and also co-developed GAM-GaRD, a responsible gambling tool used by over 40 leading gambling operators and regulators worldwide (including Norsk Tipping and the Norwegian Gaming Authority) that helps reduce game risk.

Dr. Michael Auer

Dr. Michael Auer is director at neccton has worked in the gambling industry since 2005. He is a statistician, data scientist and ‘big data’ expert. He is particularly specialized in the analysis of all aspects of responsible gaming and most of his studies have involved the evaluation of responsible gambling tools including limit setting, pop-ups, personalized messaging, mandatory breaks, and self-exclusion. Dr. Auer’s recent studies have focused on the evaluation of personalized feedback in gambling – an important way for gambling operators to support their players’ decision-making. This expertise led him (as noted above) to co-developing a commercially available behavioural tracking tool (mentor) which is now used by a number of online gambling operators across Europe. He is also skilled in the design and analysis of questionnaires and surveys, also on the basis of psychological concepts such as item response theory. He has published over 35 papers in the area of responsible gambling and player protection and has frequently presented his research at international conferences. He was also involved in consultancy projects with many gambling operators such as Norsk Tipping, Veikkaus, Rikstoto, The Dutch National Lottery, Lottery New Zealand, Atlantic Lottery Corporation and Austrian Lotteries.

Funding Sources

The study has not been funded by any commercial or public entity

Competing Interests

There are no conflicts of interest