High Recreational Gamblers Show Increased Stimulatory Effects of an Acute Laboratory Gambling Challenge

Abstract

Gambling in moderation is a socially acceptable behavior and over 60% of the Swedish population gambles every year. It has been seen that slot machines are one of the most addictive and problematic forms of gambling and contribute highly to an addictive behavior. It is unclear why some individuals intensify their gambling behavior over time to extreme levels while others do not. Initial positive response of a drug or as in this case a gambling behavior, most likely influences the likelihood of continuing use in non-addicted individuals. Therefore, we wanted to investigate if recreational gamblers show an altered subjective response to an online gambling challenge, e.g. to casino gambling. The present study was designed to examine the subjective effects after an acute gambling challenge, in healthy recreational gamblers compared with non-gamblers. Eighty-two subjects participated in the study. They were challenged with an acute online slot machine gambling challenge and self-report questionnaires of mood and blood pressure were taken before and after gambling. The gamblers, and more specifically the high recreational gamblers, reported increased stimulative effects after the gambling challenge in comparison to the non-gamblers. Findings suggests that gamblers experience significantly higher arousal effects to an acute online slot machine challenge. This response may be a uniquely predictive behavior for increased risk of gambling addiction.

Keywords: Gambling addiction; Recreational gamblers; Slot machine; Subjective effects.

Fig. 1

Mean difference scores ± standard error of mean (SEM) on the Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) between pre and post test for Effect, High, Like and Want more after the 10 min electronic slot machine challenge between the Recreational gamblers (RG; black bars) and the Non gamblers (Non-G, white bars). The asterisks denote significant differences between pre and post test (p < 0.05)

Fig. 2

Mean difference scores ± standard error of mean (SEM) on the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) between pre and post test for Benzedrine scale after the 10 min electronic slot machine challenge between the Recreational gamblers (RG; black bars) and the Non gamblers (Non-G, white bars). The asterisk denote significant differences between pre and post test (p < 0.05)

Fig. 3

Mean difference scores ± standard error of mean (SEM) on the Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) between pre and post test for Effect, High, Like and Want more after the 10 min electronic slot machine challenge between the High Recreational gamblers (HRG; black bars), the Low Recreational gamblers (LRG, grey bars) and the Non gamblers (Non-G, white bars). The asterisks denote significant differences between pre and post test (p < 0.05)

Fig. 4

Mean difference scores ± standard error of mean (SEM) on the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) between pre and post test for Benzedrine scale after the 10 min electronic slot machine challenge between the Recreational gamblers (RG; black bars), the Low Recreational gamblers (LRG, grey bars) and the Non gamblers (Non-G, white bars). The asterisk denote significant differences between pre and post test (p < 0.05)