This study examined emotional reactivity to gambling outcomes during a simulated slot machine task. The researchers examined how different gambling outcomes influence emotion and choice behaviour (i.e., staying with the same slot machine or choosing a different one). A total of 94 adults aged 20–64 years completed 72 simulated slot-machine trials. On each trial, participants chose which one of two simulated slot machines to gamble on. After each trial, participants rated their current emotion using an emotion slider ranging from extremely unhappy (0) to extremely happy (1). Participants had more positive emotional reactions when they won. They had more negative emotional reactions when they lost or when they had near-wins, near-losses, or neutral outcomes.
Participants with higher scores on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) had stronger emotional reactions to all outcomes. Participants were more likely to choose the same machine again after wins and near-wins. They were less likely to choose the same machine after losses and near-losses. PGSI scores did not affect whether participants chose the same machine again, regardless of outcome types.
