The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER Vol. 7(48) - Gambling vs. Drugs: Public Opinion and the 2002 Elections

In addition to the issues that perennially appear on the ballot, the 2002 elections presented American voters with an unprecedented number of initiatives and referenda related to the legalization of drugs and gambling. This week The WAGER explores the implications and outcomes of these initiatives. Despite federal government efforts to frame marijuana as a public health threat, there was enough public support for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes to place initiatives on the ballot in four states. Voters throughout the country (with the exception of San Francisco), however, overwhelmingly defeated measures to legalize marijuana—showing that Americans... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 7(47) - A First for North America: Integrating Responsible Gaming Features into VLTs

Last week’s WAGER summarized a study by Ladouceur and Sévigny (2002) that examined the effects of video lottery terminal (VLT) symbol sequencing on players’ gambling behavior. This week, The WAGER expands on the effect of VLT features on gambling behavior by reviewing a research initiative aimed at reducing poor VLT playing strategies by incorporating responsible gaming features into VLT design. The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation (NSGC)1 integrated four responsible gaming features into 3,200 new VLTs introduced at various locations in the province between May 2001 and January 2002 (Schellinck & Schrans, 2002). These features include: (1) a permanent on-screen clock... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 7(46) - It’s All in the Presentation: Symbol Sequence and Gambling Behavior

Conventional wisdom has it that casinos are architecturally and technologically designed to maximize customers’ gambling time. Architecture aside, some research suggests that casino games can be modified to increase the length of gambling sessions (e.g. Griffiths, 1991; Griffiths, 1993; Reid, 1986; Strickland & Grote, 1967). This week the WAGER reviews a recent study by Ladouceur and Sévigny (2002) which compares the gambling behaviors of players who used video lottery terminals (VLTs) programmed to present the symbols in the usual, sequential way, one after another, with a slight delay between each versus those who used machines programmed for a simultaneous presentation... Read more →

The WAGER Vol. 7(45) - Riches to Rags: Debt among Iowa Gambling Treatment Program Participants

Numerous studies have estimated expenditure and debt related to problem gambling (National Opinion Research Center, 1999; Productivity Commission, 1999; Volberg, Gerstein, Christiansen, & Baldridge, 2001). Such studies frequently examine the financial status of problem gamblers irrespective of important factors that could influence the accumulation of debt such as gender, time at risk, game preferences, and socio-economic status. This week’s WAGER examines the influence of a previous gambling treatment history on the gambling debt of participants in Iowa Gambling Treatment Program (Shaffer, LaBrie, LaPlante, & Kidman, 2002). The Iowa Gambling Treatment Program (IGTP) is a network of treatment facilities under the... Read more →