Marcus Parisian
Prof. Ishida
Mass Comm
October 24, 2007

Scholarly Article Critique

Research Topic and Researcher- “Problem Gambling on the Internet: Implications for Internet Gambling Policy in North America,” by Robert Wood and Robert Williams. New Media & Society, June 2007, 9 (3), pp. 520-542. Access to the full text of this article via EBSCO databases: Communication and Mass Media Complete. Article Link.

Rationale of the Study- The study was done to see the amount of problem gambling that occurs, caused by internet gambling websites. It is unknown whether internet attracts pre-existing gamblers or is the cause to problem gambling (p. 524). These research questions were asked to help solve the problem: 1-“What extent do internet gamblers manifest propensity for problem gambling?” (p. 525). 2-“What, if any, are the correlates and predictors of problem gambling among internet gamblers?” (p. 525). 3-“In the event of an observed relationship between problem and internet gambling, how might governments best craft internet gambling policies that minimize the relationship?” (p. 525). These questions are asked to help the understanding of influences the internet has on problem gamblers.

Literature Review-
• Increase in gambling among the US adult population (p. 521).
• Consumer spending on internet gambling increased 75.41 percent from 2001-2003 (p. 522).
• Internet gambling is predicted to become a $10 billion dollar industry by the end of the decade (p. 522).
• “Problem gambling is gambling behavior that creates negative consequences for the gambler (p. 522).
• Casino gambling is available in every state, except Utah and Hawaii (p 521).
• There is more availability of gambling in Canada than the US (p. 521).
• Soon governments may a state of legalized and regulated internet gambling (p. 521).
• In 2001, there were “upwards 1400 different online gambling sites” (p. 523-524).
• Internet prevalence rate in 2004 was 1.2 percent (p. 524).
• Internet prevalence rates in 2002 for the US were only 0.3 percent (p. 524).
• “4 percent of adults in North America met the criteria for problem gambling in the past year” (p. 524).
• “Internet gamblers are more likely to be suffering from a gambling problem and at greater risk of developing one” (p. 524).
• “Internet gambling sites may provide an overall experience that facilitates the emergence of a gambling problem, where none might have emerged otherwise” (p. 525).
• “The conveinience and comfort of home internet may lead to a high than normal frequency of play” (p. 525).
• The more easy it is to play online, “may result in greater than normal gambling losses (p. 525).
Research Method- The method was online surveys (p. 526). The researchers searched through gambling sites and found three that “appeared to be similar to the typical gaming portal that one encounters online” (p. 526). The online survey that was created was targeted at people who were on the three sites, who clicked on an advertisement link that brought them to the survey. The survey’s homepage told the respondents about the research goals of the study (p. 527-529). There were a total of 46 closed and open-ended questions containing several sections (p.527). The survey asked them simple questions “about their demographic information” (p. 527). “The second asked respondents about the nature of their online gaming activity” (p. 527). The last segment was given for the “respondents to complete a version of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (GPGI), to determining the level of problem-gambling behavior” (527). CPGI is a procedure for respondents to answer nine easily questions ranked 0-27 overall and individual questions 0-3 (p. 527-528).

Subject of the Study- There were a total of 1844 surveys submitted and scanned for repeats (P. 527). The three gambling sites picked people randomly from places over North America, mostly the U.S. and Canada (p. 530). The survey only lasted an average of 10 minutes (p. 527). The research conducted responded to questions about employment, ethnic background, marital status, religion, and education. Then the surveys were evaluated to find gambling behavior, from what types of games, to time spent gambling (p. 532). These questions helped sum up the idea of internets relationship to problem gambling.

Research Finding- the research findings weren’t what they expected. Internet is more of a convenient way to gamble, because of disability, to employment, to a way to have fun (p. 530-533). More male than female were taken from the sample were problem-gamblers. The most problem gamblers came from age 18-19. U.S. was the most common nationality from the sample. High school as the highest education was the most common from the Education category. There were more unemployed and non-disabled people from the sample than employed and disabled (p. 531-532). The most common game was Blackjack by more than half of the respondents (p. 532). “The CPGI, 42.7 percent can be classified as either moderate or severe problem gamblers” (p. 533). “More time spent along with male gender and minority ethnic status are all characteristics that correlate to problem gambling” (p. 534). However, “problem gamblers prefer land-based gambling” (p.534). In conclusion, “internet gamblers are a high-risk group for problem gambling” (p. 537).

My Thoughts- The work by the researchers is very thorough. The work went about their work very well, from the surveys to the CPGI version for clear answers. The survey helped give a variety in their sample of the kinds of people who gamble and where gambling comes from.
Although the research was thorough, I felt that the question of whether internet and problem gambling relates wasn’t answered as well as it could be. I would like to see more content involving how internet may reach these gamblers and if internet is a main cause for problem gambling. I think that the researchers could have contrasted the before and after affect of beginners in the online gambling industry.
Over all, questions were answered about the topic, and I enjoyed seeing the danger in gambling online. It opens up my thoughts about playing online poker for money.