Gambling Problem
Conditions
Keywords
Gambling Problem, Proactive calls, Randomized controlled trial, mini-intervention
Brief summary
Customers/gamblers gambling at Norsk Rikstoto (gambling monopolist in Norway providing horse gambling products with potential gambling problems will be randomly allocated to receive a proactive phone call (encouraging them to change their gambling behavior - e.g., be lowering the loss limit) or to a control condition. Outcomes will be short and long terms registered gambling behavior.
Detailed description
Norsk Rikstoto (gambling monopolist in Norway providing horse gambling products) enforces registered play, hence all gambling transactions and outcomes of stakes of all customers are registered and stored for 5 years. Based on daily algorithms high risk gamblers are identified. Gamblers 18-50 years who for at least 5 of the last 30 days have been identified as high risk gamblers will according to a 1.5:1 ratio be allocated to a proactive call condition or to a control condition. The call will be based on principles from motivating interviewing and will contain encouragements to alter gambling behavior (e.g., lowering loss limits). Primary outcome comprises theoretical loss (total bet x house advantage ((100% - payback%) / 100)). Secondary outcomes comprises total stakes made by the customer and loss percentage (proportion of stake that is lost). Baseline data comprises gambling behavior the 30 days before the call. Short-term effects comprise cumulative registered gambling behavior the first 90 days after the call whereas long-term effects consist of cumulative registered gambling behavior day 91-180 after the call. A random block design will be used where 15 eligible customers each week will be allocated either to the proactive call condition (n=9) or to the control condition (n=6).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALProactive call
The proactive call will be based on the principles of motivational interviewing. The content of the call comprises: 1) Asking the gambler/recipient to reflect on their gambling behavior, 2) providing to the gambler/recipient an overview of their gambling account and financial history, 3) offering to the gambler/recipient information about responsible gambling tools, such as setting lower limits, locking limits, taking a break, or self-exclusion, and 4) providing to the gambler/recipient information about relevant support services and the Gamban tool in cases where a need is expressed.
Sponsors
University of Bergen
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Intervention model description
The two arms/conditions involves one proactive phone call or a control condition
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Being identified (based on an algorithm used by Norsk Rikstoto/the gambling provider) as a high risk gambler at least 5 of the last 30 days
Exclusion criteria
* Previously received a proactive call from Norsk Rikstoto
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Theoretical loss | Change from baseline (30 days before the call) to day 1-90 after the call (short-term effect) and change from baseline (30 days before the call) to day 91-180 after the call (long-term effect). | Total bet x house advantage ((100%-payback%) / 100) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Total stake | Change from baseline (30 days before the call) to the first 90 days after the call (short term) and change from baseline to day 91-180 after the call | Total amount of money staked |
| Loss percentage | Change from baseline (30 days before the call) to day 1-90 after the call (short-term effect) and change from baseline (30 days before the call) to day 91-180 after the call (long-term effect). | Percentage of stakes that are lost |
Countries
Norway
Contacts
CONTACTStåle Pallesen, PhD
CONTACTAndre Syvertsen, PhD
Outcome results
None listed