The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol 2(39) - Drinking and Gambling: Whither the Relationship? (Part II)

Last week's WAGER (Vol. 4, Issue 38) reviewed a recent study that examined the effect of alcohol consumption on betting behavior in a particular gambling task. This week the WAGER considers a different perspective on the matter. Baron and Dickerson (1999, in press) utilized a two-phase design to study 45 users of video gaming devices near Sydney in Australia. Upon consenting to participate, patrons were interviewed about the gaming and drinking in which they had taken part during their current session of gambling. They were then given a questionnaire to take home, fill out, and return. Both the interview and... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 4(38) - Drinking and Gambling: Whither the Relationship? (Part I)

The complimentary cocktail has long been a fixture on the floors of casinos. The purpose of the free drink has been the subject of debate, and several theories exist concerning its function as an incentive to gamble. Additional questions exist concerning its status as a simple courtesy on the part of the gaming industry or a chemical means of inducing gamblers to take greater risks and spend more money. It is this latter explanation that is relevant to a recently published study by Breslin, Sobell, Cappell, Vakili, and Poulos (1999). Although "comp" beverages are mentioned nowhere in the text of... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 4(37) - Comparative Vignettes of Women with Gambling Problems

Below are two third-person depictions of women with gambling problems. The first dates from 1812, and was included by M.L. Weems in his verbosely titled tract, God's revenge against gambling exemplified in the miserable lives and untimely deaths of a number of persons from both sexes, who had sacrificed their health, wealth, and honor at the gaming tables."1The second vignette is drawn from the final report of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission2, published earlier this year. One hundred and seventy-seven years separate these accounts, and an examination of the two sources allows us to reflect on the multitudinous social... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 4(36) - The Science of "Survey Says:" A Review of Instrumentation

It is difficult to remember our first exposure to surveys; they are truly ubiquitous. At some point in our schooling we may have been given the assignment of designing a survey: perhaps to determine how many children in the third grade watched a particular TV show, enjoyed celery, or had a red shirt. The task was simple then, and diligently we would canvass our classmates, asking them "if they had red shirts." To complete the assignment, we would then divide the number of positive responses by the total number of people surveyed. If only instrumentation were that simple. Consider the... Read more →