blurring lines of online gaming and gambling

Julie M. Hynes, MA, CPS27th Annual “Leading the Challenge” Prevention Conference

June 22, 2017 | State College, PA

The complete slide deck & print-friendly handouts are posted at:

www.preventionlane.org/pa

10:19 AM

J. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

I have no financial interests. My professional affiliations are neutral on legalized gambling.

Info about NCPG: www.ncpgambling.org

9:13 AM


http://www.ncpgambling.org/

INTRODUCTIONS

Cover recent social

gaming & online

gambling trends.

Discuss strategies for help.

9:15 AM

Understand connections &

concerns w/problem gambling.


How about you--

YOUR objectives for today?


CAVEATMaterial here is very fresh…but just like your new phone, this material will likely be outdated by tomorrow. :/

Image purchased by J. Hynes via cartoonstock.com; please do not duplicate.


TRENDS

PART 1.


Graphic source: http://www.cyber-scholar.com/

THISis now almost all of us.


REALLY, IT IS ALMOST ALL OF US.

Source: Pew Research Center (2017, January). Mobile Fact Sheet.http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile/ J. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

Lottery machine at Sea-Tac Airport

GAMIFICATION

- GAMIFICATION- MARKETING- BLURRINESS

We don’t think of these things as gambling.

Therefore, we don’t think our young people are gambling.

Definition: Gambling

__________ something of value

in the ____________________

something of greater value.

hopes of obtainingRisking

Source: American Psychiatric Association - DSM-5 (2013). J. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

1. Prize:

DEFINITION: COMMON 3 WAYS FOR DETERMINING GAMBLING

2. Chance:

3. Consideration:J. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

1. PRIZE:

BLURRING LINES?

2. CHANCE:

3. CONSIDERATION:

Anything of value the sponsor awards in a promotion. (Example: goods/services with a monetary value or items of value.)

A process beyond the participant's direct control determines the outcome. (Example: an instant-win game at a fast food restaurant.)

Requires money or significant effort. (Example: attending a sales presentation.)6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa


Blurry.

2


“Freemium”3

FREE* APPS…* (WITH “IN-APP

PURCHASES.”)

REAL MONEY FOR PRETEND MONEY.


Another consideration:

What stops a youth from downloading M (17+) games?

The pop-ad on the right was on my tween daughter’s game


• Technology

• Speed

• Platforms

CHANGING NORMS & BLURRY LAWS.


Images: Top right, cbssports.com; middle right, www.csgolounge.com; left center, Daniel Berman; bottom left, Poker Deluxe app screen shot.

This = ILLEGAL in most states


This = LEGAL in most states


[We will cover daily fantasy sports this afternoon]

Connections& Concerns

PART 2.


PROBLEM GAMBLING: CONTINUUM.

No Gambling Experimentation

Recreational Problem Pathological

Problem Gambling is the commonly used umbrella term. “Gambling disorder” clinical diagnosis has replaced “pathological gambling.”

At-Risk“GAMBLING DISORDER”

5.6% college age (18-24)

2½ % all adults (18+)

4% teens (13-17)

PROBLEM GAMBLING RATES, BY AGE:


~1% older adults (65+)

Why? Is it the generation? Technology? Or what?

“ADDICTION” is the desired industry term.

ISSUES FOR VIDEO GAMING IN GENERAL, THEN ADD IN $$$

“Executives love to hear the phrase ‘addictive gameplay.’

Game designers, speaking for myself and those I know… find the concept intriguing but simultaneously dangerous.”

– Erin Hoffman, Video Game Designer

2


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What do you see here?


Struggle with cutting back

Job/school problems.

Withdrawal/

isolation

Preoccupation

Change in friends

SIMILARITIES IN SIGNS OF A PROBLEM.

Unusual amount of $ or $ problemsUsing it as

an escape $!

Much like the

technologyitself,

researchis new.


0

CAVEAT before I show some

of the research:

We should be very careful not to pathologize all gaming behavior.


GAMING ADDICTION THE DSM? Not so fast!

J. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/paJ. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

“INTERNET GAMING DISORDER” (IGD) is…

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. Washington, D.C: Author.

Gentile, D. (2009). Pathological video-game use among youth ages 8-18: A national study. Psychological Science, 20, 594-602.

3

Youth “Pathological” Video Gamers

• Sample of 1,178 youth in the U.S.: 8.5% of youth gamers were classified as “pathological gamers”

• >80% play video games at least occasionally

• “Pathological” gaming: (using 5 of 10 of DSM-IV; this was prior to DSM-5)


4

n=3,034 – grades 3, 4, 7 & 8

9% pathological gaming

●Less empathy

●More impulsivity

Source: Gentile, Choo, Liau, et al. (2011). Pathological video game use among youth: A two year longitudinal study. Pediatrics, 127, e319-29

Youth “Pathological” Video Gamers


http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/2/e319.full.pdf+html

Similarities between those with internet gaming disorder (IGD) & pathological gamblers:

• Less sensitive to loss

• More reactive to gaming and gambling cues

• More impulsive choices

Fauth-Büler, M., Mann, K. (2015, Nov.) Neurobiological correlates of internet gaming disorder: Similarities to pathological gambling. Journal of Addictive Behaviors J. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

IGD & Pathological Gambling:

Source: Brain Briefings (2007, October), Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC

GAMING/GAMBLING & DOPAMINE6

Dopamine not released when expecting a loss.Flooded with dopamine when expecting a win!

It’s NOT about the money!


The

PREFRONTAL CORTEX is the LAST PART to develop.

25years old!

The brain is still

developinguntil


THE CONNECTIONS MAKE SENSE.

“ALMOST WINNING”: dopamine is activated the same as ACTUALLY winning.

Problem gamblers are more likely to see their near misses as “NEAR WINS”

People play LONGER when machines give them NEAR MISSES.


What is almost alwaysa key risk factor?

TRAUMA.J. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

(Hodgins et al. 2010; Kraus et al. 2003; Najavits et al. 2010; Petry and Steinberg 2005; Taber et al. 1987)

Exposure to early childhood trauma has consistently been associated with

disordered gambling.


GAMBLING & ACEs

Associated w/ ADHD, personality disorders &…

Disordered gamblingPoole, J.C., Kim, H.S., Dobson, K.S., & Hodgins, D.C.(2017, March). Adverse childhood experiences and disordered gambling: Assessing the mediating role of emotion dysregulation. Journal of Gambling Studies, DOI 10.1007/s10899-017-9680-8

Adverse Childhood

Experiences (ACEs)

Emotional dysregulation

Self-medicating

w/substance use, eating,

gambling, etc.

Substance use disorders,

eating disorders, disordered gambling

ACES – ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCESGrowing up (prior to age 18) in a household with:• Physical abuse • Emotional abuse • Sexual abuse • Emotional or physical neglect • Loss of parent due to divorce,

abandonment, or death• Substance use• Mental illness• Incarcerated household member

ACE points are attributed for exposure to each type of adverse event (0 to 10).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/aceJ. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

HOW WE VIEW “NEGLECT” COULD BE CHANGING.


ACES OFTEN LAST A LIFETIME…BUT THEY DON’T HAVE TO • Healing can occur

• The cycle can be broken

• Safe, stable, nurturing relationships heal both parent and child

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov


5.6% college age (18-24)

2½ % all adults (18+)

4% teens (13-17)

PROBLEM GAMBLING RATES, BY AGE:

~1% older adults (65+)

And electronic forms of gaming are most addictive, fastest at addicting.


FROM RENOWNED RESEARCHER DR. MARK GRIFFITHS:

67

Mark Griffiths, 2015 - http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/21/opinion/gaming-addiction-risks/


(i.e., Addiction = Addiction = Addiction.)

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/21/opinion/gaming-addiction-risks/

RECOMMENDED: GAMING ADDICTION RESEARCHThis link has some great research articles from one of the most prominent online behavior addiction researchers in the field.

https://drmarkgriffiths.wordpress.com/2016/04/22/game-over-view-a-brief-overview-of-our-recent-papers-on-gaming-addiction/


https://drmarkgriffiths.wordpress.com/2016/04/22/game-over-view-a-brief-overview-of-our-recent-papers-on-gaming-addiction/

NOW WHAT?PART 3.


a. High level.

PROTECTIONS:


PREVENTION

NCPG Prevention Committee: Has a new “Emerging Trends” task group. Info:

www.ncpgprevention.org

Coalition building.


a. High level.

74

b. Local systems level.

Protections:


TREATMENT

We need to work toward problem gambling treatment providers being able to provide services for (and BILL for!) individuals with gaming problems

PROVIDING SERVICES.


a. High level.

b. Local systems level.

c. Ground level.

Protections:


APPS can help.w/CAVEATs!●By searching on the app store/Google play

(etc.) for apps, mobile users can inadvertently trigger themselves ☹

●Be sure to verify individual is not, in fact, actually addicted being on the device itself.


OTHER HELPFUL APPS IN GENERAL:

• Mindfulness apps – those that encourage breathing, meditating, etc.

• Exercise apps – physical activity to encourage natural dopamine release and reduce stress.

• Recovery apps (SoberTool, etc.)

• Use caution if concerned about screen addiction.

• Moderation is key!! 80

FOR ADDICTED GAMERS:

GAME QUITTERS:www.gamequitters.com

Super duper helpful resource.

http://www.gamequitters.com/

www.cgaa.info



http://www.cgaa.info/

http://www.cgaa.info/

83

https://netaddictionrecovery.com/video-game-addiction.html

https://netaddictionrecovery.com/video-game-addiction.html


www.olganon.orgJ. Hynes | 6/22/17 | www.preventionlane.org/pa

http://www.olganon.org/

●SET MOBILE CONTROLS: set them (your mobile carriers’, not just the device!)

●WATCH YOUR CREDIT CARD: don’t link it to--or unlink it from--your phone!!

●MONITOR BEHAVIOR: Keep computer use in open area – if you can (desktop computer). Use monitoring apps to monitor apps!

Other tips for those in recovery & in general


PREVENTION

• Include gambling in conversationsabout alcohol & other drugs, ANDtechnology.

Awareness & Education: parents & kids

Download free fact sheet: http://www.preventionlane.org/maine


http://www.preventionlane.org/maine

COMMUNICATEexpectations.

USE TECHto your

advantage.

Remember about when you

need to shut the game off.

☺ love u

Jordan. Off. Now.

It’s LoL, mom.

K

Mom

9:46PM

9:31PM

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9:13 PM

9:45 PM

9:45 PM

9:46 PM

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MONITORING

MONITORING● Check out the games/apps WITH your kids

● Play with your kids or sit with them while they play.You will have fun and learn about their gaming, too.

● Check the ratings of the games your kids want to play. Most games at retail stores are described and rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board(ESRB). Use these ratings as you discuss the most appropriate games with your child or teen.

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________________________

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp

MOBILE DEVICES & PARENTAL CONTROLS

● Major mobile services (e.g., AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) offer family protection plans

● Features include: GPS, purchase blocking, turning off browsing/data/texting, time of day, etc.

● See www.preventionlane.org/online-safety for a list of helpful links to these services

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Practicality alert: Some features CANNOT be blocked when user has access to WiFi (so…you may need to change your WiFi password often!)

http://www.preventionlane.org/online-safety

“Addiction is not about what you DO, but what you DON'T DO because of the

replacement of the addictive behavior.”

– Erin Hoffman, Video Game Designer

4

And ensure there are OTHER THINGS TO DO.

WHEN TO ACT.●Pay attention to clues:

restlessness, withdrawal, lack of interest, different friends, signs you’ve learned about alcohol & other drug behaviors

● INTERVENE if you see warning signs. (Get intervention tips: www.drugfree.org/intervene)


Stay engaged & listen to your gut!


LAST, BUT NOT LEAST:

Cover recent social

gaming & online

gambling trends.

Discuss strategies for help.

11:41 AM

Understand connections &

concerns w/problem gambling.


QUESTIONS?COMMENTS?


facebook.com/preventionlane@HynesUOPreventionLane