Griffiths, M.D. & Wood, R.T.A. (2001). The psychology of lottery gambling. International Gambling Studies, 1, 27-44. (original) (raw)
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This study examines the cognitive and social psychological factors underlying UK National Lottery play. A total of 384 respondents were asked about their own lottery playing behaviours, their knowledge of lottery odds and their beliefs about the role of skill, chance, luck and optimism in lottery play. Using hypothetical scenarios, respondents were also asked to rate the likelihood of winning the lottery jackpot (matching all six numbers) with number combinations reflecting different levels of apparent randomness, previous matches,
Correlates and predictors of lottery play in the United Kingdom
Journal of Gambling Studies, 1998
Previous studies of lottery play have tended to adopt one particular approach, concentrating on demographic, personality, cognitive, or social aspects of play. Using the recently introduced United Kingdom National Lottery, this study investigated variables associated with all of these approaches within an overall integrative framework. In a community sample (N = 160), Lottery play was positively correlated with friends' Lottery play, "Instants" Lottery play, frequency of other gambling, and misunderstanding of Lottery probability, and negatively correlated with level of education. In a regression analysis, friends' Lottery play, Instants Lottery play, and education level were significant unique predictors of Lottery play, and a combination of these and other variables accounted for 38% of the variance in playing behavior. The results are discussed predominantly in terms of the nature of lotteries as a social activity.
Where Lies the Harm in Lottery Gambling? A Portrait of Gambling Practices and Associated Problems
Journal of Gambling Studies , 2018
Lotteries are one of the most prevalent forms of gambling and generate substantial state revenues. They are also argued to be one of the least harmful forms of gambling. This paper is one of the first to examine exclusive lottery gamblers and compares their gambling patterns and problems as well other associated risky behaviours to those who are not exclusive lottery gamblers. Data were derived from two large surveys conducted with representative adult samples in France (n = 15,635) and Québec (n = 23,896). Participants were separated into two groups: exclusive lottery gamblers (ELGs) and non-exclusive lottery gamblers. Using multivariate analysis, study results reveal that ELGs, who represent two thirds of gamblers, generally exhibit less intensive gambling patterns and are less likely to report other risky behaviours. However, harms associated with moderate risk and problem gambling are found to be concentrated in specific subpopulations for both groups, primarily males, older individuals, and those who report lower income and education level. Given widespread participation in lotteries and concentration of harm within specific subgroups, these findings point to the need for prevention efforts despite the lower levels of harm associated with lottery gambling.
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There is evidence that the faulty cognitions underlying an individual's playing behavior maintains and supports their gambling behavior. Sixty undergraduate students completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), a measure to assess pathological gambling, and a questionnaire ascertaining the type and frequency of their gambling activities. Sixteen Loto 6/49 tickets were presented to participants and ranked according to their perceived likelihood of being the winning ticket. The numbers on the tickets were categorized as: long sequences (e.g., 1-2-3-4-5-6), patterns and series in a pseudo-psychological order (e.g., 16-21-26-31-36-41), unbalanced (e.g., six numbers from 1-24 or 25-49), and those appearing to be random (e.g., 11-14-20-29-37-43). Verbal protocols of ticket selections were ranked into eight heuristics. Results revealed that for the entire sample the greatest percentage of tickets chosen for the first four selections were "random" tickets. Further, the most commonly cited reason for selecting and changing a lottery ticket was perceived randomness. The results are discussed with reference to the cognitions used when purchasing lottery tickets.
Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 1991
Observed patterns of lottery play suggest that many players believe they can improve their chance of winning by adjusting their bets according to which numbers have won in recent drawings, or in response to their dreams or other portents. This skill orientation is encouraged by state lottery advertising, which tends to be misleading in other respects as well. Patterns of lottery play and the content of lottery commercials provide readily available illustrations of psychological tendencies in risky decision-making that have been documented in laboratory experiments.
2002
There is a substantial body of evidence to indicate that the consumption of gambling products, including lotto, begins when consumers are under the legal age required to consume the product (Ladouceur et al. 1998, Lesieur and Klein 1987, Gupta and Derevensky 1998). There are also claims that high levels of problem gambling exist among children and teens. A range of studies has estimated that the prevalence of pathological problem gambling among children and teens is approximately 5.5% to 6 % (e.g. Lesieur et al. 1991, Schwartz 1995, Derevensky 1996), or at least twice the prevalence rates found in the adult population. S o m e claim that underage gambling is so prolific that it should be n o w considered a serious public health issue, with allegations that millions of teenagers are succumbing to problem gambling (Horn 1997). There is little published research relating to gambling adoption by children and teens. Sti there are allegations that marketing activities, such as advertising in the mass media, m a y mislead vulnerable groups such as teens and children, and prompt increased levels of gambling consumption (e.g. Clotfelter and Cook 1989, Davidson 1996). These allegations are supported by claims that promotions such as televised advertising m a y be causing vulnerable groups such as underage teens to gamble (Anon 1999, Teinowitz 1999, Productivity Commission 1999). The lotto product category was chosen for this research because lotto has the highest level of market penetration, of any gambling product, in most markets in which it is sold (Mizerski, Miller and Mizerski 2001). Further, lotto is strongly supported by high levels of televised advertising and other marketing initiatives. It is claimed that lottery marketers are 2
The Dutch instant lottery: prevalence and correlates of at-risk playing
Addiction, 1997
After a long and contentious political debate, the instant lottery zvas iiitrodueed in the Netherlands in 1994. One of the eondmons for allowing the introduction zvas thai an evaluation study sJiould be conducted zvith regard to possible negative side effeets of the instant lotteiy in tenns of excessive playing or addiction. This artiele reports on the mam results of this evaluation study. In a random sa)fiplc of 4497 instant lolteiy players, at-nsk players zvere differentiated from reereative players on the basis of level of involve met it in the Distant lotteiy, impaired control and the experienced negative eofisequenees of playing. Of the sample, 4.1 ''o eould be elassified as an at~nsk player. Actual problems resultuig from playing in tJie Distant lotteiy tvere experienced by 0. 7% of the players. At-risk players and reereative players did not only differ substantially in their plaving behaviour, but also zvith regard to their socio-economic background, playing motivation, participation ut other games of ehanee, and involvement DI aleohol use and use of manjuana. To sumnianze, at-nsk plavers zvere more likely to eomefrom a poor soeio-eeonomic backgwundy to play the Distant lottery zvith a ne,^ative plaving motivation, to be heavily involved in other forms of gambling, to have used marijuana and to drink alcohol exeessivelv.
Strategies to Improve the Probability of Winning a Lottery: Gamblers and Their Illusions of Control
ACR European Advances, 2005
Gamblers often have an illusion of control, believing that they can influence random outcomes. This study explores whether a gambler's locus of control affects the illusion of control. As expected, the illusion of control was strongest amongst gamblers with an external locus of control (externals). Externals believed that they could choose numbers that would be more likely to be drawn in a lottery. Unexpectedly, gamblers with an internal locus of control (internals) believed the ticket that they were assigned had a better chance of being drawn. We concluded internals may be revealing a more passive form of illusory control. "I figure you have the same chance of winning the lottery whether you play or not"