A game of skill? : Miscognitions and problematic behaviour in video game players who gamble.

Abstract

<p>This study used PLS-SEM to analyse data (n = 613) collected via an online survey, in order to<br />investigate potential relationships between gambling related cognitive fallacies, or miscognitions, and both<br />participation in gambling and problematic gambling behaviour in the target population. Statistically<br />significant relationships were found to exist in both cases, an unexpected finding was the negative<br />correlation between Interpretive Bias and both dependent variables. One potential explanation for this may<br />be the sense of personal agency and control engendered through regular video game playing. This study<br />forms one of the first to apply existing measures for gambling related cognitions and apply it to a newly<br />emergent population of video game gamblers, and it marks the start of attempts to understand whether<br />cognitive frameworks which underpin gambling apply to emergent forms in the same way as established<br />forms. This study demonstrates that the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale is an applicable measure in the<br />sample population, while highlighting areas for further investigation. As such, it suggests that the context<br />of video games may affect the way in which gambling is perceived, an issue of significance as the gambling<br />industry attempts to woo younger consumers with more skill-based activities inspired by video games.<br />Keywords: video games, gambling, PGSI, problematic behaviour, cognitive bias, miscognitions</p><p></p><p> </p><p><b></b></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p>