Kim Hyoun S, Hollingshead Samantha, Wohl Michael J A
Addictive Behaviours Laboratory, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Carleton University Gambling Lab, Department of Psychology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, B550 Loeb Building, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
J Gambl Stud. 2017 Jun;33(2):525-538. doi: 10.1007/s10899-016-9626-6.
Social casino games are online gambling-like games found on social networking sites. They are initially free to play, however, players are encouraged to make micro-transactions (i.e., in-game purchases) for additional game credits or functionality. As a result, they generate billions of dollars in revenue. Yet, little is known as to who purchases virtual credits, let alone why. In the present research, we assessed whether there are individual differences (impulsivity, reward sensitivity, competitiveness, and problem gambling severity) between who is and who is not likely to make micro-transactions during social casino game play. Moreover, we examined possible motivations for making micro-transactions (e.g., extend play, win back lost credits) and whether the individual difference variables of interest predict reported motivation(s) for making micro-transactions. Results showed that social casino gamers who engaged in micro-transactions reported significantly higher levels of impulsivity, reward sensitivity and problem gambling severity, but not competitiveness. In terms of motivation to make micro-transactions, desire to extend play was endorsed most frequently, followed by a desire to access additional features, chasing lost credits, and to speed up play. Lastly, among participants who made micro-transactions, reward sensitivity predicted making micro-transactions to chase lost credits. These results suggest the personality make-up of social casino gamers is important to understand who is likely to make micro-transactions as well as their motivation to do so-information that could prove useful for regulation of the industry.
社交赌场游戏是在社交网站上发现的类似在线赌博的游戏。它们最初是免费玩的，然而，鼓励玩家进行小额交易（即游戏内购买）以获取额外的游戏积分或功能。结果，它们产生了数十亿美元的收入。然而，对于谁购买虚拟积分，更不用说原因了，人们知之甚少。在本研究中，我们评估了在社交赌场游戏过程中，可能进行小额交易和不太可能进行小额交易的人之间是否存在个体差异（冲动性、奖励敏感性、竞争性和问题赌博严重程度）。此外，我们研究了进行小额交易的可能动机（例如，延长游戏时间、赢回失去的积分），以及相关的个体差异变量是否能预测所报告的小额交易动机。结果表明，进行小额交易的社交赌场游戏玩家报告的冲动性、奖励敏感性和问题赌博严重程度显著更高，但竞争性并非如此。就进行小额交易的动机而言，延长游戏时间的愿望被提及得最为频繁，其次是获取额外功能、追回失去的积分以及加快游戏速度的愿望。最后，在进行小额交易的参与者中，奖励敏感性预测了为追回失去的积分而进行小额交易的行为。这些结果表明，了解社交赌场游戏玩家的性格构成对于弄清楚谁可能进行小额交易以及他们这样做的动机很重要——这些信息可能对该行业的监管有用。
