Do gamblers exceed their limits while playing pokies and will technology help?
The latest Australian research insights about pre-commitment
Presentation by Sarah HareDirector - Schottler Consulting Pty Ltd
Overview
• Pre-commitment is a very topical issue at the moment
• But what are the facts?
• Presentation brings you some of the latest insights about:
• Part I - Factors which influence adherence to pre-commitments (A study funded by Gambling Research Australia)
• Part II – Major learnings from trials of pre-commitment technologies
• Part III - What could this all mean for problem gambling counsellors?
Part I: Research on factors which influence EGM player adherence to gambling spend limits
A study funded by Gambling Research Australia(Schottler Consulting, 2010)
Research overview
• Research examined factors which influence whether gamblers kept to their limits during EGM play
• Shadowing of 200 EGM players across Australia during pokies play
• Challenging method as all play transactions were recorded LIVE during play
• One of very few behavioural studies of EGM play
• Possibly the first study EVER to manually record live play transactions
• Findings revealed many insights into both EGM player behaviour and EGM player adherence to limits during play
This shows the complexity of the data recording method! (+ a detailed survey as well)
How do EGM players set their limits?
• In addition to money limits, 80% set bet size limit, 28% time limit• 42% of problem gamblers set a bet size limit on more than 2 credits per line (versus 15% of non-problem gamblers)• At-risk gamblers were less likely to set a time limit (compared to non-problem gamblers)• When a time limit was set, problem gamblers set a higher time limit (p<.05) (81.3 v 50.3 minutes)
• Only half (52%) set their expenditure limit more than a day before play
• Problem gamblers were less likely to ‘always’ set limits (p<.001)
• Despite this, problem gamblers were also more likely to report loans (p<.05)
• Higher-risk players also tended to report fewer household budget categories
• Problem gamblers were more likely to overspend household budgets (especially food, car, cigarette budgets) (p<.05)
Problem gamblers had great difficulty deciding on their limit (!)
Did EGM players keep to their limits?
• Based on observation of spending - Between 12-16% of EGM players exceeded their spend limit in a single session
• However, based on self-report – only 7% reported exceeding their spend limit
• 17% exceeded time limit (based on observation) (or 2% based on self-report)
• 7% exceeded their bet size limit (based on self-report)
• Results raise issues such as:
• How should adherence to limits be measured?
• How often and where should players set limits?
Factors which influenced whether players kept to spend limits – General factors
• Players who set spend limits closer to play were more likely to not adhere to their limits (p>.05)
• Players exceeding spend limits were less likely to set a time limit (p<.05)
• 30% of players reported using ‘control strategies’ and players who didn’t report ‘control strategies’ were more likely to exceed their limit (p<.05)
• Players exceeding spend limits were less likely to notice RG signage(p<.01) and players not noticing signage were more absorbed in play (p<.05)
• Players exceeding spend limits were more likely to feel they were ‘due’ for a win (p<.01) and to report ‘chasing losses’ (p<.001)(especially after a feature!)
Factors which influenced whether players kept to spend limits – EGM design factors
• Players were more likely to exceed their EGM expenditure limit if they:
• Received an increased number of free spins (after moving from the 1st to 2nd EGM) (p<.001)
• Were highly absorbed and involved in play (p<.05)
• Reported feeling stronger urges to continue during EGM play (p<.05)
• Experienced high excitement after receiving features during EGM play (p<.05)
• Findings also showed a link between speed of play and adherenceto limits (p<.05)
• Recent retirement increased likelihood that playersexceeded limits (p<.01)
• Players were less likely to exceed expenditure limits if they had ‘money worries’ and reported the following in past year:
• Taking on a mortgage, loan or making a large purchase (p<.01)
• Experiencing daily money hassles (p<.05)
• Concern over owing money or debts (p<.05)
• Concern over job security (p<.05)
Factors which influenced whether players kept to spend limits – Lifestyle factors
Factors which predict urges to continue EGM play
• Promotions + prizes were also linked to excitement (p<.001)
• The greater the change in excitement(from EGM1-2), the greater the urge to continue (p<.001)
Other interesting EGM LIVE play observations
• Both moderate risk and problem gamblers tended to play EGMs offering higher prizes
• Problem gamblers were more likely to select linked jackpot machines(55% compared to only 41% of non-problem gamblers)
• Problem gamblers were more likely to play at hotels (69% compared to 37% of non-problem gamblers)
• Moderate risk and problem gamblers played in areas where there were fewer people
• Problem gamblers put more money on the credit meter before commencing play
• Problem gamblers made more multiple credit bets and used double-up more frequently than non-problem gamblers
Conclusions
• Various aspects of EGM and venue design may be related to players exceeding limits or the urge to continue play (e.g., Free spins, features, loyalty points, prizes + incentives)
• Problem gamblers have difficulty deciding on their spend limit, have less clear household budgets + may play faster
• Provides many insights of relevance to gambling harm-minimisation policye.g., Where players should set limits The need for education about how to set limits Risks of linked jackpots, loyalty systems, prizes and incentives etc.
Part II: Major learnings from real trials of pre-commitment technologies
Learnings from four trials of REAL pre-commitment systems(3 in Queensland, 1 in South Australia)
What do pre-commitment systems look like?
• Peripherals with electronics which track spending (time and money)• Different media - Cards (mag stripe, smart cards), proximity readers, USB sticks etc.
• System emits a visible and audible warning (a beep) when you reach your limit
• Don’t necessarily get locked out of the system – but can continue playing on most
• Many work with a loyalty system
• Typically cooling off period for changing your limit – e.g., 24hrs or 48hrs
• Two types of system• Cashless systems – Allow you to store cash on cards
• Non-cashless systems – No storage of money on cards
• Many different features• Some allow you to set limits on the EGM, others at a terminal (some both)
• Some allow you to automatically transfer money to the credit meter (e.g., $5, $20 etc.)
• You can usually print-outs of expenditure (not compulsory though)
• Special features in some – e.g., Personalised ‘reminders’, breaks in play, staff notification systems when players reach limits
What do we know so far about use of pre-commitment?
(from trials)
• Not many people use it if voluntary
• Venue staff struggle to sell and promote pre-commitment
• Strong brand association between pre-commitment + PG
Venue promotion of pre-commitmentcan be problematic, but (!)
• If the venue puts reasonable effort into promotion, it does increase uptake
• Many users can be recruited to use the system within a fairly short period
• Opt-out better than opt-in
The venue experience withpre-commitment
• Venues and staff perceive it as very onerous BEFORE they experience it – especially time for staff and players to learn
• Then following experience with systems, they realise it’s quite easy
• Staff adapt and don’t find it burdensome
• The reality is that most time is getting people set-up
• An ‘average venue’ may need about ~3mths to get into full swing
System design is linked toharm-minimization potential
• System design plays a role in pre-commitment system effectiveness
• The most confusing aspect of systems involves players setting limits
• This is also because some systems have MANY options (Some far too many) – For instance:
• Players are often confused by the huge number of limits you can set
• Imagine being asked to set: MONEY LIMITS, TIME LIMITS, BET LIMITS, BREAKS IN PLAY…
• Then different limits for daily, weekly, monthly and yearly expenditure
• What happens is that many players set totally non-sensical limits
• Bottom line is that some systems and options are far too complex
Players don’t always remember limits or set affordable limits
• Also issue that many players forget the limits they set (!)
• PGs may not have the capacity to work out an ‘affordable limit’
• SA trial showed that players may set limits higher than their typical spending
• 62% players in SA trial selected limits higher than usual spending
• If players want to circumvent the system, they probably will
• One way is just setting a very high limit ($1,000), which you never reach (!)
How useful is pre-commitment?
• Reasonably strong evidence that many EGM players find it useful • It makes you aware of what you are spending so you can have more control
• I saw the advertisements around the venue and asked the staff about it. It sounded very good, so I signed up
• It's a good idea for people to keep to a budget or limit
• Cashless systems allow people to move from EGM to EGM quickly(e.g., no waiting for pay-outs or hopper refills)
• Reasonable evidence that higher-risk users find it more useful - For instance, SA trial found that:
• 23% of MRs reported improved limit adherence
• 14% of MRs and 38% of PGs reported greater expenditure awareness
From SA trial of ‘Play Smart’
How useful is pre-commitment?
Based on SA trial and USERS ONLY – estimated expenditure changes (estimates – as turnover data used for analysis)
•Decline in spending of ~$22 per player (a 31% decrease)
•Mean decrease in spending was larger for at-risk gamblers (than NPGs)
• NPGs - down 5% - decrease of roughly ~$1 spend • LRs - down 12% - decrease of roughly ~$9 spend• MRs - down 49% - decrease of roughly ~ $48 spend• PGs - down 56% - decrease of ~$35 spend
Part III: What are possible implications ofpre-commitment for counselling services?
Some points for reflection..
Observational research study of EGM players
• Highlights that there is value in EGM player education on:
• Budgeting (Many PGs have very poor budgeting skills)
• How to choose limits (PGs often don’t select appropriate limits)
• When to set limits (Limits set too close to play may be harmful)
• Time limits with money may be useful
• Limits reported by PGs should be taken with a grain of salt(Their limits tend to vary a lot over time)
• Free spins, features, loyalty systems + prizes may contribute to the ‘urge to gamble’
• Could explore in counselling
• Potential for CBT techniques
Proposed pre-commitment legislation
• Bills before parliament will require:
By the end of 2013, pre-commitment technology to be available on every gaming machine in Australia
• For further detail see the Fahcsia web site:
www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/gamblingdrugs/progserv/problemgambling/Pages/nat_gam_reform_bills.aspx
Pre-commitment trials
Highlight the future potential for counsellors/educators to:
•Play a role in encouraging player uptake of pre-commitment in venues
•Assist gamblers to make more informed decisions about limits they choose
•Educate venue staff about pre-commitment benefits for NPGs and PGs
•Encourage PGs in counselling who continue to gamble to try pre-commitment
•Encourage pre-commitment use for informed decision making about spending
•Though ALSO be aware that:
• There is no definitive evidence that compulsory pre-commitment will FIX problem gambling
• Though there is some evidence that pre-commitment offers some value to most gamblers
• Need much more research to examine whether pre-commitment could assist in preventing the development of problem gambling (??)
• Cannot force people to change if they don’t want to (!)
For interest….
• Verbatim:
‘Mandatory or full pre-commitment simply refers to a system where a player is required to set limits and then cannot renege on these. Limits could not be changed simply because a player decided on a whim to change his or her mind. Once the player reached their pre-set limit, further play is disabled’
• See:www.aph.gov.au/binaries/senate/...ctte/precommitment.../c05.pdf
Top Related