Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Gambling Warning Message Recall and Recognition

Session Title

Poster Session

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

24-5-2023 10:30 AM

End Date

24-5-2023 11:15 AM

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology

Abstract

Warning messages inform consumers of potential risks and to reduce the likelihood of excessive engagement in risky behaviors. Studies have established the effects of warning messages for electronic gambling machines. Few have explored how contextual variables, such as alcohol consumption, impact the recall and recognition of gambling-related warning messages. This study examined the effects of alcohol consumption on the recall and recognition of these messages. In this laboratory study, participants were 65 college students who were over 21 years old, regularly consumed alcohol, gambled previously, physically healthy, and screened negative for depression. Eligible participants were randomized to consume alcohol (target BAC = .06-.08%) or juice and then invited to gamble for 30 minutes using a pre-programmed slot machine. Every 20 spins one of four warning messages was displayed. Following the gambling session, participants completed a filler task before being asked to complete recall and recognition tasks related to the content of the warning messages. No significant differences in warning message recall were observed. However, participants’ responses showed a general understanding of the content of the messages. Those in the alcohol condition produced more incorrect responses on the recognition task than those in the control condition. Responsible gambling practices need to consider the role of alcohol and other contextual variables that might influence the reception of positive play and warning messages. Future studies should explore how variation of message content or presentation impacts message reception while under the influence of alcohol.

Keywords

warning messages, responsible gambling, alcohol consumption

Author Bios

Ji wan Son is a master’s student in the master’s in general psychology program at The University of Memphis working in The Institute for Gambling Education and Research. His current research interests center on the effects of alcohol on gambling behavior, warning messages on gambling products and on how gambling disorders affect military veterans.

Tori L. Horn is a doctoral candidate 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.

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. Dr. Pfund’s 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, PhD 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.

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May 24th, 10:30 AM May 24th, 11:15 AM

Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Gambling Warning Message Recall and Recognition

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Warning messages inform consumers of potential risks and to reduce the likelihood of excessive engagement in risky behaviors. Studies have established the effects of warning messages for electronic gambling machines. Few have explored how contextual variables, such as alcohol consumption, impact the recall and recognition of gambling-related warning messages. This study examined the effects of alcohol consumption on the recall and recognition of these messages. In this laboratory study, participants were 65 college students who were over 21 years old, regularly consumed alcohol, gambled previously, physically healthy, and screened negative for depression. Eligible participants were randomized to consume alcohol (target BAC = .06-.08%) or juice and then invited to gamble for 30 minutes using a pre-programmed slot machine. Every 20 spins one of four warning messages was displayed. Following the gambling session, participants completed a filler task before being asked to complete recall and recognition tasks related to the content of the warning messages. No significant differences in warning message recall were observed. However, participants’ responses showed a general understanding of the content of the messages. Those in the alcohol condition produced more incorrect responses on the recognition task than those in the control condition. Responsible gambling practices need to consider the role of alcohol and other contextual variables that might influence the reception of positive play and warning messages. Future studies should explore how variation of message content or presentation impacts message reception while under the influence of alcohol.