Kim Hyoun S, Wohl Michael J A, Gupta Rina, Derevensky Jeffrey L
University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Asian J Gambl Issues Public Health. 2017;7(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s40405-017-0025-4. Epub 2017 Aug 22.
The present research examined the mechanisms of initiating online gambling among young adults. Of particular interest was whether social casino gaming was noted as part of young adults' experience with online gambling. This is because there is growing concern that social casino gaming may be a 'gateway' to online gambling. Three focus groups ( = 21) were conducted with young adult online gamblers from two large Canadian Universities. Participants noted the role of peer influence as well as incentives (e.g., sign up bonuses) as important factors that motivated them to start engaging in online gambling. Participants also noted a link between social casino games and online gambling. Specifically, several young adults reported migrating to online gambling within a relatively short period after engaging with social casino games. Potential mechanisms that may lead to the migration from social casino games to online gambling included the role of advertisements and the inflated pay out rates on these free to play gambling like games. The results suggest initiatives to prevent the development of disordered gambling should understand the potential of social casino gaming to act as a gateway to online gambling, especially amongst this vulnerable population.
本研究探讨了年轻人开始参与网络赌博的机制。特别令人感兴趣的是，社交赌场游戏是否被视为年轻人网络赌博经历的一部分。这是因为人们越来越担心社交赌场游戏可能是网络赌博的“入门途径”。对来自加拿大两所大型大学的年轻成年网络赌徒进行了三个焦点小组访谈（n = 21）。参与者指出，同伴影响以及激励措施（例如注册奖金）是促使他们开始参与网络赌博的重要因素。参与者还指出社交赌场游戏与网络赌博之间存在联系。具体而言，几名年轻人报告称，在参与社交赌场游戏后的相对较短时间内就转向了网络赌博。可能导致从社交赌场游戏转向网络赌博的潜在机制包括广告的作用以及这些免费赌博类游戏过高的赔付率。结果表明，预防无序赌博发展的举措应了解社交赌场游戏作为网络赌博入门途径的可能性，尤其是在这一 vulnerable population 中。 （注：这里“vulnerable population”未明确准确中文释义，可根据上下文理解为易受影响群体等类似意思 ）
