Dataset Information

Deposit Limit Prompt in Online Gambling for Reducing Gambling Intensity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT: Pre-commitment tools - allowing users of gambling services to pre-set a limit for how much money they may spend - are relatively common. However, there exist no clear evidence of their effectiveness in preventing gamblers from spending more money than they otherwise planned. The aim of the study was to compare gambling intensity between users of an online gambling service prompted to set a deposit limit and non-prompted customers, both in the whole sample and among most active users based on the total number of gambling days. Prospective customers of a publicly governed gambling operator from Finland were randomized to receive a prompt to set a voluntary deposit limit of optional size either (1) at registration, (2) before or (3) after their first deposit, or (4) to an unprompted control condition. Data on customers from Finland with online slots as a preferred gambling category (N = 4328) were tracked in the platform for 90 days starting at account registration, gambling intensity being measured with aggregated net loss. The intervention groups did not differ from each other in either proportion of participants with positive net loss or size of positive net loss. The pooled intervention group did not differ from the control group regarding proportion of gamblers with positive net loss (OR = 1.0; p = 0.921) or size of net loss (B = -0.1; p = 0.291). The intervention groups had higher rates of limit-setters compared to the control condition (OR_{at-registration/pre-deposit/post-deposit} = 11.9/9.2/4.1). Customers who have increased/removed a previously set deposit limit had higher net loss than the limit-setters who have not increased/removed their limit (B_{at-registration/pre-deposit/post-deposit/control} = 0.7/0.6/1.0/1.3), and unprompted limit-setters lost more than unprompted non-setters (B = 1.0). Prompting online gamblers to set a voluntary deposit limit of optional size did not affect subsequent net loss compared to unprompted customers, motivating design and evaluation of alternative pre-commitment tools. Setting a deposit limit without a prompt or increasing/removing a previously set limit may be a marker of gambling problems and may be used to identify customers in need of help.

SUBMITTER: Ivanova E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6455077 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Deposit Limit Prompt in Online Gambling for Reducing Gambling Intensity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ivanova Ekaterina E Magnusson Kristoffer K Carlbring Per P

Frontiers in psychology 20190328

Pre-commitment tools - allowing users of gambling services to pre-set a limit for how much money they may spend - are relatively common. However, there exist no clear evidence of their effectiveness in preventing gamblers from spending more money than they otherwise planned. The aim of the study was to compare gambling intensity between users of an online gambling service prompted to set a deposit limit and non-prompted customers, both in the whole sample and among most active users based on the ...[more]

PMID: 31001160

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Project description:IntroductionDevelopment of fully internet-based programs could provide a new avenue to improve access to healthcare for problem gamblers. In this project, we aim to assess the efficacy of a web-based cognitive intervention targeting inhibitory control among problem gamblers, using a randomised controlled design. As impaired inhibitory control is involved in self-regulation difficulties in behavioural addictions, it represents a particularly relevant cognitive process to target for an online psychological intervention.Methods and analysisThis will be a single-blinded, randomised, comparative therapeutic web-based, controlled trial. Up to 200 non-treatment seeking adult problem gamblers with a Problem Gambling Severity Index-recent (PGSI-recent) score ≥5 will be included. The intervention will be a computerised cognitive training program targeting inhibitory skills. The comparator, an active control, will be a computerised neutral sensorial program. Both programs will be carried out under similar conditions: biweekly online training for 6 weeks and optional telephone support will be offered to patients for debriefing. The main objective of the study is to assess the clinical efficacy of the online cognitive training program at 6 weeks, measured with the PGSI-recent. The secondary objectives are to assess the efficacy on the gambling behaviour assessed by the account-based gambling data, on the self-reported gambling practice, and on the inhibition performance at the neuropsychological level at 6, 14 and 52 weeks. We will also assess the acceptability of this program and the preferred level of guidance. Data analysis will be in intention-to-treat.Ethics and disseminationThis randomized controlled trial will be executed in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration, and was approved by the local ethics boards (Comité de Protection des Personnes) in October 2017. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT03673800.

Project description:Background: Many features of Internet gambling may impact problem severity, particularly for vulnerable populations (availability, anonymity, a convenience and ease of play, digital forms of payment, and a higher level of immersion). To prevent the risks associated with excessive gambling and to inform gamblers, we need responsible gambling strategies. Gambling-related warning messages are one possible strategy that can help minimizing gambling-related harm. Methods: Our experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of self-appraisal and informative pop-up messages compared to a control condition (blank pop-up messages), for both at-risk (ARG) and low risk/non-problem Internet gamblers (LR/NPG) according to their favorite type of game, in a semi naturalistic setting and with a 15-day follow-up. During the experimental session, participants were invited to gamble on their favorite website with their own money in the laboratory. Effectiveness was investigated through the impact of pop-ups on gambling behavior (money wagered and time spent), craving, cognitive distortions, and gambling experience, taking into account message recall. We analyzed data from 58 participants, playing preferentially either to skill and chance bank games (sports betting, horse race betting) and skill and chance social games (poker). Results: We observed a significant decrease in the illusion of control for ARG in the informative pop-up condition at the 15-day follow-up. A significant effect of self-appraisal pop-ups compared to blank pop-up messages was also demonstrated only for sport and horse bettors, with a decrease on time spent gambling and an increase of gambling-related expectancies at the follow-up. Finally, we also observed that a majority of the participants were disturbed and irritated by pop-ups during their gambling session. Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrated the limited impact of pop-up warning messages on gambling behavior and cognition in Internet gamblers according to the type of game and the status of gamblers. The limited impact of warning messages on gambling behavior and the inconvenience of the pop-ups for Internet gamblers lead us to only consider warning messages as one piece of a larger responsible gambling strategy. Trial Registration Number: NCT01789580 on February 12, 2013.

Project description:BackgroundThe effects of exercise frequency and intensity on alleviating depressive symptoms in older adults with insomnia are unclear.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of different exercise frequencies and intensities on prescribed aerobic-type physical activity (i.e., 75 min of vigorous-intensity exercise or 150 min of moderate-intensity exercise weekly) for reducing depressive symptoms in older adults living with insomnia, as recommended by the WHO.DesignThis study is a randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial.SettingThis study is conducted at a single research site in Hong Kong.ParticipantsThis study includes older adults aged 50 years or above with depressive symptoms and insomnia.InterventionParticipants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1:1 ratio to the following groups: attention control (CON), moderate walking once weekly (MOD × 1/week), moderate walking thrice weekly (MOD × 3/week), vigorous walking once weekly (VIG × 1/week), and vigorous walking thrice weekly (VIG × 3/week). The total weekly exercise volumes among the walking groups were matched to the minimum recommended physical activity volume.MeasurementsDepression, anxiety, self-perceived sleep quality, insomnia severity, actigraphy-assessed 7-day sleep data, 7-day sleep diary, cardiorespiratory fitness, adherence, and habitual physical activity were examined at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention.ResultsBoth MOD × 3/week and VIG × 3/week groups demonstrated reduced depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] - Depression: MOD × 3/wk: -68.6%; VIG × 3/week: -67.4%) and anxiety levels (HADS - Anxiety: MOD × 3/week: -54.3%; VIG × 3/week: -59.8%) compared with CON (both p < 0.01). Self-perceived sleep quality was improved in MOD × 3/week (-31.4% of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), VIG × 1/week (-34.1% of PSQI), and VIG × 3/week (-38.3% of PSQI), but not in MOD × 1/week, when compared with CON (p < 0.05). No serious adverse events were observed in this study.ConclusionThe effects of walking training on reducing depressive symptoms appeared to be dependent on exercise frequency. Our findings suggest that three sessions of walking per week at either moderate or vigorous-intensity effectively alleviate depressive symptoms in older adults with insomnia. Additional research is needed to further verify the effects of exercise frequency on depression.Clinical trial registration[ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04354922].

Dataset Information

Deposit Limit Prompt in Online Gambling for Reducing Gambling Intensity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Publications

Deposit Limit Prompt in Online Gambling for Reducing Gambling Intensity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

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