Rationalization is the process by which people justify their actions. The researchers explored how people rationalize why they continue to gamble despite their losses. They used a framework used to explain why religious group members continued to have faith in failed prophecies. They interviewed 43 Canadian adults who identified electronic gaming machines (EGMs) as their preferred game type. All participants were experiencing or at risk of problem gambling. Spiritualization, test of faith, human error, and blaming others were all used to justify continued gambling. This study shows that rationalization in gambling reflects broader cultural beliefs around moral worth, supernatural forces, and persistence despite setbacks.
