Instant cash-out allows people to cancel an online sports bet and immediately receive a payout. In this study, the researchers looked at how impulsivity might relate to using instant cash-out. Participants were 145 adults living in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States. They completed online questionnaires that assessed impulsivity and risk of problem gambling. They also completed a card-betting task to assess how often they used the cash-out feature.
Participants with more severe problem gambling accepted cash-out offers less often than those with lower-risk gambling. Participants who were less impulsive also tended to accept cash-out offers less often. Specific dimensions of impulsivity were related to a lower tendency to accept cash-out offers. The findings suggest that instant cash-out appeals more to people who are less impulsive and have lower risk of problem gambling.
