## Signs, Gambling-Related Issues, in Poker and Further
Dr. Maris Catania, SG:Certified, a safe gambling counselor, discusses signs of gambling-related harm.
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Signs, gambling-related issues, in poker and further.
For researchers examining behavioral psychology and addiction-related subjects, data from online gambling is a true treasure trove of actionable insights.
In the days before the modernization of the gambling industry, any analysis of behavioral patterns depended on manual data tracking from in-person operators or potentially unreliable surveys from the customers themselves.
The lack of dependable, detailed data made it challenging to create a thorough picture of the link between player behavior and their overall risk exposure.
**How Data Fills the Void for Safer Gambling**
However, due to the abundance of digital data, researchers today are starting to be able to fill in some of the gaps with empirical evidence.
We are starting to understand more about the background, causes, and effects of uncontrolled gambling.
The industry is starting to make and test some data-driven predictions about where players fall on the risk spectrum based on the choices and behaviors they demonstrate.
Its possible to glean insights into which games or game variations are inherently riskier, even from a safer gambling standpoint.
By examining a recent study, we can delve into indicators of gambling-related harm across different categories, utilizing data from regulated online platforms. This research might hold some intriguing nuggets for poker enthusiasts.
Harm Indicators for Various Gambling Products
The paper we’re focusing on is titled “Behavioral Indicators of Harm and their Potential in Identifying Risk in Online Gambling Products.” It was commissioned by Kindred Group in 2022 and encompassed a sample of 100,000 of their UK customers over a six-month period.
The research team included myself, previously a responsible gambling manager at Kindred, now a senior safe gambling consultant at SG:certified.
The objective of this study was to investigate whether specific products are more closely associated with established harm behavior indicators than others. These indicators were identified through prior research, including:
– Seeking bonus behavior
– Playing at unconventional times
– Depositing during a gaming session
– Relaxing responsible gambling settings
– Deposits being rejected
The foundation of the analysis lies in the broader finding that these indicators shift in a predictable manner with the total amount of time a customer spends gambling.
Scientists have discovered that the levels of danger associated with various forms of wagering differ significantly.
The scientists explain: “All signs, except for responsible gaming environments, seem to be connected to active days of interaction with specific product types, particularly slots, instant win games, and some of the most common sports accumulator wagers.”
“These findings emphasize the potential benefit of using quantifiable indicators to distinguish the risk and potential damage of different online products.”
Connecting Gambling to Harm Markers
Here is a chart that shows the link between active days and known harm markers in the analysis of different gambling products in the research paper:
This information helps us better understand the differences in inherent risk characteristics of various forms of gambling.
For instance, it is easy to understand why slots have such a strong connection to harm-based indicators, considering the game’s speed and the immediate nature of the outcomes.
Scientists refer to this as “short event frequency,” a characteristic that appears to align with many key risk factors. In the study’s categories, slot players generated the highest bonus page visit rate, responsible gaming changes, and declined transaction rate.
What do the writers believe?
A studys results reveal a consistent, strong link between indicators of detrimental behavior and the number of days dedicated to specific gambling activities.
Specifically, three product structures appear to be more strongly connected to riskier gambling habits: short-term event frequency (like slot machines and betting on matches), placing bets on various combinations of multiple betting options in a single transaction (like combination bets), and, surprisingly, engaging in live, rather than simulated, table games.
The complete research paper on product risk can be found in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.
Where does poker stand in terms of risk?
Poker exhibits an average correlation of 0.07 across all harmful indicators, placing it low on the list.
Poker players don’t display particularly high bonus-seeking behavior, they rarely replenish their funds during gameplay, and they experience fewer transaction rejections compared to most other gamblers.
At first glance, this research appears to depict poker as a relatively low-risk form of gambling. The average correlation for tournaments and cash games suggests that playing more often doesn’t necessarily mean players face proportionally higher risks.
Especially when played online, the game doesn’t meet any of the three highest-risk criteria identified by researchers.
It has a more frequent occurrence of events, a fairly straightforward betting system, and is entirely generated by computer programs.
Though, if we examine it closely, we can start to understand how games based on ability (such as poker) expose players to unique dangers related to time management.
However, what’s missing from the information is an examination of the intangible qualities that set poker apart from most forms of wagering—most notably, the element of skill.
Addiction and Poker
Poker requires more time than other games you’ll find in gambling establishments, and that’s the starting point for any discussion about its associated dangers. It’s an engrossing game, a characteristic absent in most forms of gambling, and becoming a successful player fundamentally requires a substantial time investment.
This leads to the additional issue of possible addiction.
Consider slot machine players, for example. They don’t typically become addicted to the game they play. Once you walk away from the slot machine, you probably don’t think about it again.
But poker has a way of staying in your thoughts even after you leave the table, partly because of its skill factor.
But is that all there is to it?
Overall, research has not yet determined how the role of skill in a particular game impacts its relationship with these risk indicators. And it seems logical that the presence of skill would naturally lessen the risk of some of the negative effects associated with gambling.
Your outcomes are largely determined by your abilities, which provide you with a powerful inner motivation to dedicate more time and effort to mastering them.
To enhance your overall proficiency, you could peruse poker literature or view poker content during your leisure hours. You could also engage in discussions about hands with your poker companions, devoting a significant amount of time to this endeavor. After departing from the roulette table, you have limited decisions to analyze, but poker enthusiasts persistently strive for excellence.
We discovered that 18% of online poker players participate weekly, almost twice the proportion of the second largest group (slot machines). On average, online poker players engage in the game for approximately 33 days annually, nearly double the frequency of any other type of gambler. Slot machine players, on average, participate for about 17 days a year. In another section of the document, we examined the activity rate, uncovering some evidence to support this fixation.
Be cautious of the “Tetris effect.”
Poker can readily transform from a pastime (or profession) into a perilous obsession. This is certainly not the only threat. Video games, social media platforms, television series, routine work – all of these possess the potential to captivate our minds when we need to address other obligations.
Experts in human behavior have coined a term for this subconscious fixation: the Tetris Effect.
During the late 1990s, when early video games such as Tetris became part of mainstream culture, some players started experiencing the game’s sounds and visuals in their unconscious thoughts and dreams. For some Tetris players, the game became an all-consuming passion. Even when they weren’t physically playing, they were playing in their minds.
The point at which this obsession becomes harmful in games like Tetris or poker is difficult to pinpoint, and it cannot be identified using established gambling harm time markers.
It’s particularly difficult to detect in poker, as the game’s skill element and other fundamental aspects often attribute some time commitment to the pursuit of perfection.
Maintaining a healthy equilibrium in poker games
For instance, if you play from dusk to dawn, your friends might start to express concern about you. This behavior would be a fairly clear indication of worry. But in online poker, extended or unusual playing times don’t necessarily imply increased risk.
Perhaps the game is being played in a different time zone, perhaps it’s a major tournament day, perhaps you’re simply taking advantage of the game’s inherent meditative qualities.
That being said, it’s worthwhile to pay attention to your habits in this regard.
The information appears to indicate that the majority of poker players do not allow the game to deplete their financial resources. However, be cautious of the concealed hazards that emerge when poker begins to dominate your daily thoughts and actions.
Identifying risk factors associated with your non-monetary assets can assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between the time and effort you dedicate to playing poker and the self-investment you make in life outside of the tables.
Transforming Indicators into Benchmarks
SG:certified is among the foremost organizations advocating for genuine regulatory action in the investigation of this form of gambling behavior. After all, what value does new understanding hold if we do not utilize it to implement responsive practices? What value does rule-making have if it is not enforced?
Consider traffic regulations, for instance. Most drivers comprehend the connection between excessive speed and traffic accidents, and decades of traffic research have prompted most governments to establish speed limits for their public thoroughfares. This is the only sensible response to the data.
These limitations not only inform the public about safe speeds but also provide a clear threshold for enforcement.
Merely identifying the safe speed for a specific road is insufficient to safeguard drivers. Enhancing road safety necessitates monitoring and enforcement. It requires speed checks and the issuance of citations to those who breach the posted speed limit.
Guidelines require repercussions to function effectively.
The regulation of wagering is not drastically different from the management of road traffic. Rules designed to enhance the safety of gambling are based on evidence and their primary objective is not retribution. Similar to speed limits, regulations exist primarily to safeguard the public.
Catania and SG:certified bridge the gap between safer gambling research and policy, utilizing their custom compliance dashboard to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders in the development of products and processes that genuinely protect consumers, particularly those at elevated risk. Through this approach, the gambling industry can begin to progress towards a more secure future.
If you are an operator or regulator, dedicated to aligning your offerings with the latest behavioral research in gambling, SG:certified is enthusiastic about demonstrating the path forward. You can arrange a complimentary demonstration with their team at this location.
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