Abstract
Despite the widespread increase in online poker playing and the risk related to excessive poker playing, research on online
poker websites is still lacking with regard to pathological gambling prevention strategies offered by the websites. The aim
of the present study was to assess the pathological gambling-related prevention strategies of online poker websites. Two keywords
(“poker” and “poker help”) were entered into two popular World Wide Web search engines. The first 20 links related to French
and English online poker websites were assessed. Seventy-four websites were assessed with a standardized tool designed to
rate sites on the basis of accountability, interactivity, prevention strategies, marketing, and messages related to poker
strategies. Prevention strategies appeared to be lacking. Whereas a substantial proportion of the websites offered incitation
to gambling such as betting “tips,” few sites offered strategies to prevent or address problem gambling. Furthermore, strategies
related to poker, such as probability estimation, were mostly reported without acknowledging their limitations. Results of
this study suggest that more adequate prevention strategies for risky gambling should be developed for online poker.
poker websites is still lacking with regard to pathological gambling prevention strategies offered by the websites. The aim
of the present study was to assess the pathological gambling-related prevention strategies of online poker websites. Two keywords
(“poker” and “poker help”) were entered into two popular World Wide Web search engines. The first 20 links related to French
and English online poker websites were assessed. Seventy-four websites were assessed with a standardized tool designed to
rate sites on the basis of accountability, interactivity, prevention strategies, marketing, and messages related to poker
strategies. Prevention strategies appeared to be lacking. Whereas a substantial proportion of the websites offered incitation
to gambling such as betting “tips,” few sites offered strategies to prevent or address problem gambling. Furthermore, strategies
related to poker, such as probability estimation, were mostly reported without acknowledging their limitations. Results of
this study suggest that more adequate prevention strategies for risky gambling should be developed for online poker.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10899-011-9288-3
- Authors
- Yasser Khazaal, Division of Addictology, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Grand pré 70-C-1206, Geneva, Switzerland
- Anne Chatton, Division of Addictology, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Grand pré 70-C-1206, Geneva, Switzerland
- Audrey Bouvard, Savoie University, Savoie, France
- Hiba Khiari, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
- Sophia Achab, Division of Addictology, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Grand pré 70-C-1206, Geneva, Switzerland
- Daniele Zullino, Division of Addictology, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Grand pré 70-C-1206, Geneva, Switzerland
- Journal Journal of Gambling Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-3602
- Print ISSN 1050-5350