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ANNUAL CONFERENCE CANBERRA 2009

Rydges Lakeside, Canberra, ACT, Australia
18-20 November 2009

 

 

 

 

Column 8

NAGS Annual Research Award increased to $10,000 Grant Guidelines
Application Form


State Round-up

February 09


New Updated Student Award

 

National War Memorial, Canberra

 

19th Annual Conference

Rydges Lakeside, Canberra, ACT, Australia
18-20 November 2009

 


PRELIMINARY NOTICE AND CALL FOR PAPERS

GENERAL & IDEAS FORUM SUBMISSION FORM

 

 

The National Association of Gambling Studies Australia aims to promote discussion and research into all areas of gambling activity. We have members from the industry, treatment agencies, academics, regulators and gamblers themselves.

By becoming a member you will have access to:

  • The Association's Journal
  • Discounted rates to the Annual Conference
  • Networking opportunities
  • Ability to consult and seek expert research and other advice from other NAGS members
  • Past Journals and Conference Presentations (Currently a library of this material is being developed in the members area of the web site)
  • Applications for the Annual NAGS Research Grant (up to $10,000)

 

NAGS 18TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, ADELAIDE 2008

2008 Student Presentation Award Winner

Ms Anna Thomas

"EGM PROBLEM GAMBLING: THE IMPORTANCE OF ESCAPE AND ACCESSIBILITY AS GAMBLING MOTIVATORS"

Abstract
A recently developed model of electronic gaming machine (EGM) problem gambling (Thomas, Sullivan & Allen, 2008) suggested that motivation may mediate relationships between gambling problems and antecedent factors. Their qualitative study found that EGM gambling problems generally followed significant life stressors. People used EGMs as a cognitive escape from stressors and saw venues as an accessible and welcoming oasis from problems. Low levels of social support from partners or friends and maladaptive coping habits increased the likelihood that EGMs were used to manage problems. The present quantitative research used a new measure of EGM gambling motivations to examine these relationships in a community sample of 355 current EGM gamblers (232 females (M = 29.60 years, SD = 15.41; 123 males (M = 29.64 years, SD = 12.29). Multiple regression analyses showed that age, stressors, maladaptive coping, and social support from friends all independently predicted (a) gambling as an escape and (b) gambling because it was accessible. Older people, those who had experienced a stressor, those who relied on maladaptive coping strategies, and those who had low friendship support had a tendency to gamble as an escape and because it was accessible. People who reported these motivations gambled more frequently and experienced more EGM gambling problems. It was concluded that people experiencing significant stressors may be vulnerable to EGM gambling problems because this gambling form provides an accessible means of cognitive and physical escape. People with limited coping resources may be particularly vulnerable.

 

Bibliography: Anna Thomas has investigated problem gambling as part of her Honours and PhD research programs over the past eight years. She has recently developed a model of EGM problem gambling using qualitative methodology and constructed a scale measuring EGM gambling motivations based on the results. Anna is concurrently managing a gambling research project at Swinburne University investigating multiple aspects of accessibility.