Self-Regulatory Strategies Reduce Gambling Spend and Harm in a Randomised Controlled Trial of Electronic Gaming Machine Players

Abstract

Research provides insights into the self-regulatory strategies (SRSs) gamblers use, but evidence supporting their efficacy is weak. Study 1 aimed to identify a set of SRSs that best predict less harmful gambling amongst electronic gaming machine (EGM) players who are most vulnerable to EGM-related harm. Study 2 aimed to test their efficacy as a brief intervention in a randomised controlled trial. Study 1 surveyed 2032 EGM players and compared SRS-use amongst harmed and less-harmed players after propensity matching and weighting. Study 2 delivered 13 efficacious SRSs identified in study 1 as a brief intervention in a three-wave RCT and assessed their effect on time and money spent on EGMs and EGM-related harm. In study 1, the individual use of 17 SRSs and the total count of these SRSs used were associated with lower EGM-related harm. In study 2, assignment to three SRSs resulted in reduced EGM spend, with no detectable effects for 10 other SRSs. More frequent reported use of one of the same SRSs and an additional two SRSs also resulted in reduced EGM spend and/or reduced EGM-related harm. The results provide new evidence about the efficacy of certain SRSs to result in beneficial gambling outcomes: setting aside a fixed amount to spend, taking regular breaks, keeping leisure time busy with other activities, not gambling due to boredom, and keeping a household budget. These SRSs could be communicated as actionable strategies people can use to help reduce gambling harm.