Wood, Robert

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https://opus.uleth.ca/handle/10133/559

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Browsing Wood, Robert by Subject "Gambling"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Gambling and problem gambling in a sample of university students
    (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2006-04) Williams, Robert J.; Connolly, Dennis; Wood, Robert T.; Nowatzki, Nadine R.
    University students from southern Alberta (n = 585) were administered a questionnaire to assess their gambling behaviour. Seventy-two percent reported gambling in the past 6 months, with the most common types being lotteries and instant win tickets (44%) and games of skill against other people (34%). Most students who gambled spent very little time and money doing so (median time spent = 1.5 hrs; median amount of money spent = $0). While gambling is an innocuous activity for most, a significant minority of students are heavy gamblers who experience adverse consequences from it. Seven and one-half percent of students were classified as problem or pathological gamblers, a rate significantly higher than in the general Alberta adult population. The characteristics that best differentiated problem gamblers from non-problem gamblers were more positive attitudes toward gambling, ethnicity (41% of Asian gamblers were problem gamblers), university major (kinesiology, education, management), superior ability to calculate gambling odds, and older age.
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    Internet Gambling: Past, Present and Future
    (Elsevier, 2007) Wood, Robert T.; Williams, Robert J.
    In light of continued and rapid expansion, and in light of existing ambiguities and gaps in current knowledge, this chapter seeks to highlight the major trends and issues associated with Internet gambling today. This is not meant to offer a definitive answer to all questions and issues that are emerging from the current state of Internet gambling. Instead, recognizing that much more research is needed in most areas, this chapter merely seeks to highlight crucial domains of knowledge and research on Internet gambling, as well as any resulting implications.
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    Problem Gambling on the Internet: Implications for Internet Gambling Policy in North America
    (Sage, 2007-06) Wood, Robert T.; Williams, Robert J.
    Internet gambling is legal in many jurisdictions around the world, and observers predict that it is simply a matter of time before various North American governments, in Canada and the USA, take steps towards legalizing and regulating Internet gambling opportunities. Indeed, the proportion of North America gamblers who choose to gamble on the Internet is increasing at a dramatic rate. Unfortunately, however, relatively little is known about the characteristics of these individuals, or their propensity for problem gambling. Past studies predict that Internet gamblers are especially at risk for developing gambling problems, and that a substantial proportion of them already can be properly classified as problem or pathological gamblers. The present study investigates this issue using data collected from an Internet-based survey administered to 1920 American, Canadian, and International Internet gamblers. Confirming predictions of a relationship between Internet gambling and problem gambling, we find that 42.7% of the Internet gamblers in our sample can be classified as problem gamblers. In light of our findings, and bearing in mind recommendations made by other gambling researchers, we conclude with a discussion of issues and cautions for governments to heed when crafting Internet gambling policies.
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    Why do Internet gamblers prefer online versus land-based venues? Some preliminary findings and implications
    (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2007-06) Wood, Robert T.; Williams, Robert J.; Lawton, Paul K.
    At a time when land-based gambling opportunities are widely available, why might some people choose or prefer to gamble on the Internet? We investigate this question using qualitative and quantitative data collected from an Internet-based survey of 1,920 Internet gamblers. The primary reasons people gave for preferring Internet gambling were (a) the relative convenience, comfort, and ease of Internet gambling; (b) an aversion to the atmosphere and clientele of land-based venues; (c) a preference for the pace and nature of online game-play; and (d) the potential for higher wins and lower overall expenditures when gambling online. Findings suggest that online venues may offer their clientele a range of experiences and benefits that are perceived to be unavailable at land-based venues. The authors recommend research into whether a competitive edge exists between different aspects of the gambling market, including Internet venues versus land-based gambling establishments. Keywords: gambling, Internet, online, electronic, survey, preference, convenience, expenditures