Alcohol Consumption while Gambling: New Evidence within a Responsible Gambling Framework

Session Title

Session 2-3-B: Identifying Gambling Patterns to Reduce Harm

Presenters

Tori HornFollow
Marcos Lerma, University of MemphisFollow
Abby McPhail, University of MemphisFollow
Rory A. Pfund, University of MemphisFollow
James Whelan Ph.D, University of MemphisFollow

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

24-5-2023 1:30 PM

End Date

24-5-2023 3:00 PM

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology | Psychology

Abstract

Alcohol is frequently accessible to patrons in gambling venues. Concerns have repeatedly arisen that drinking while gambling will increase risk-taking and gambling-related harm. This talk will first present a systematic review and meta-analysis, which precisely explored disparate findings of experimental investigations of the effects of acute alcohol consumption on gambling and risk-taking. This review revealed no difference between those who consumed alcohol and alcohol-placebo beverages but a reliable difference when alcohol was compared to a non-alcohol condition, suggesting potential expectancy effects. A second study examined predictors of simultaneous drinking while gambling through self-report that confirmed the meta-analytic findings. Specifically, those who consumed alcohol more frequently and screened positive for a gambling problem reported greater time spent consuming alcohol while gambling. The third study explored individuals’ expectations of how alcohol may influence their gambling experience and the effects those expectations might have on their gambling behaviors. Over half of participants agreed that they felt more confident, felt luckier, and their gambling skills increased while consuming alcohol. Those who held these positive expectations reported spending more time consuming alcohol while gambling. Collectively, these studies can guide responsible gambling policy and practices to more precisely understand how to inform consumers. Responsible gambling policy should be guided by a more precise understanding of how drinking while gambling might increase risk. These studies highlight that the effects may center on consumer expectations about alcohol. Finally, clinicians treating those with gambling problems should assess clients’ alcohol use and how they expect it to impact their gambling.

Keywords

Alcohol Use, Gambling, Risk-Taking, Responsible Gambling, Alcohol Expectancies

Author Bios

Tori L. Horn is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at The University of Memphis working in The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. Her current research interests center on the effects of alcohol on gambling behavior and warning messages on gambling products.

Marcos Lerma is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at The University of Memphis and a graduate assistant working at The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. His current research interests include assessing the intersectionality between gambling behaviors and social media.

Abby McPhail is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at The University of Memphis working in The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. Her current research interests center on the effects of cannabis use on gambling behavior.

Rory A. Pfund, PhD is a Research Assistant Professor of Psychology and the Clinic and Research Director of The Institute of Gambling Education and Research at the University of Memphis. His research focuses on understanding the effects of psychological treatments for gambling disorder. He is currently the co-investigator on a grant from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop a web-based portal to facilitate the initiation of gambling disorder treatment.

James P. Whelan is a University of Memphis Professor of Psychology and Director of The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. He leads the Institute’s initiative to develop a research center response for all living in the U.S. state of Tennessee – a project funded by Tennessee’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. His research spans prevention, assessment, and treatment of gambling disorder.

Funding Sources

This project was funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The funding source had no involvement in any aspects of the research, including the decision to submit the abstract.

Competing Interests

None declared.