Messages about deposit limits can help encourage some people to start using deposit-limiting tools

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Author(s): Heirene, Robert M. ; Gainsbury, Sally M.

Journal: Addiction

Year Published: 2021

Date Added: May 26, 2021

Many gambling websites offer customer protection tools such as deposit limit tools. These tools may reduce harm from gambling, but few customers use them. This study tested whether receiving messages about deposit limits increased the chance that people started using this tool. The researchers sent messages about deposit limits to customers of Australian sports and race wagering websites. Participants who received these messages were more likely to set deposit limits than those who did not receive a message. However, only 0.7% of people who received a message started using the tool. Message format and the way it was delivered did not make a substantial difference in tool uptake. The findings suggest messages about deposit limits can help some people start using deposit limit tools which will likely reduce risky gambling.

Citation: Heirene, R. M., & Gainsbury, S. M. (2021). Encouraging and evaluating limit-setting among on-line gamblers: A naturalistic randomized controlled trial. Addiction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15471

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15471

Keywords: consumer protection ; gambling ; limit setting ; messaging ; online gambling ; precommitment ; responsible gambling ; sports betting ; wager limits

Topics: Gambling Resources ; Information for Operators ; Online Gambling ; Sports Betting

Conceptual Framework Factors: Gambling Types ; Environment - Culture of Social Responsibility ; Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Exposure - Marketing and Messaging ; Environment - Responsible Gambling ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Gambling Environment

Study Design: Experimental: RCT (randomized controlled trial)

Geographic Coverage: Australia

Study Population: Adults who place wagers on sports and race betting websites in Australia (N=31,989). This study looked at adults who placed wagers at least 5 times in the past 30 days, and who had not previously used any consumer protection tools or responsible gambling tools on these gambling websites.

Sampling Procedure: The researchers used customer data from four Australian gambling operator websites (specifically, websites for sports and race wagering). The gambling operators identified customers who met the researchers’ criteria and randomly assigned the participants to the control and treatment groups. Customers did not know they were participants in a study.

Study Funding:

This study was partially funded by Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), a body representing the Australian online wagering industry. It was also supported by a Discovery Early Career Research Award provided by the Australian Research Council.