Science Faculty, Brain and Mind Centre, School of Psychology, Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic, University of Sydney, 94 Mallet St, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.
Carson College of Business, School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University, 915 North Broadway, Everett, WA, 98201, USA.
J Gambl Stud. 2020 Dec;36(4):1267-1282. doi: 10.1007/s10899-019-09915-3.
Hybrid gambling machines (HGMs) are a new gambling activity that combine the skill element of traditional video games with the random pay-out schedule of electronic gaming machines (e.g., slots). Developed to increase gambling by younger generations that favor video games, there is currently no empirical evidence regarding consumer views of HGMs to guide policy-decision making related to this new gambling activity. We use the theory of reasoned action (TRA) to investigate factors that motivate intentions to play these machines in two studies: (1) among 43 casino patrons and (2) among 184 US online participants residing in states where HGMs were available. Both samples completed surveys after exposure to actual or explanations of HGMs and slots. Analyses supported the prediction that positive attitudes towards HGMs and positively perceived subjective norms would predict intention to play HGMs and slots. The results suggest that the TRA is a useful framework for explaining intentions to gamble on traditional slot machines and new HGMs. The absence of research on HGMs makes these studies an important and necessary contribution to the empirical literature on machine gambling. Understanding individuals' intentions to engage with HGMs is important to guide development of harm-minimisation practices and evaluate impact of policy changes.
混合赌博机（HGM）是一种新的赌博活动，它将传统电子游戏的技巧元素与电子赌博机（如老虎机）的随机支付时间表相结合。这种赌博机是为了吸引喜欢电子游戏的年轻一代而开发的，目前还没有关于消费者对 HGM 看法的实证证据来指导与这种新的赌博活动相关的政策决策。我们使用理性行为理论（TRA）来研究两个研究中的动机因素：（1）在 43 名赌场顾客中；（2）在 184 名居住在 HGM 可用州的美国在线参与者中。两个样本在接触到实际的 HGM 或 HGM 和老虎机的解释后完成了调查。分析结果支持这样的假设，即对 HGM 的积极态度和对主观规范的积极感知将预测玩 HGM 和老虎机的意图。结果表明，TRA 是解释对传统老虎机和新型 HGM 赌博意图的有用框架。由于缺乏对 HGM 的研究，这些研究为机器赌博的实证文献做出了重要而必要的贡献。了解个人参与 HGM 的意图对于指导减少伤害的实践和评估政策变化的影响非常重要。
