The purpose of this study was to examine how gambling context influenced mood state and alcohol cravings. The researchers conducted an experimental study. Participants were 76 college students who gambled at least once in the past year, consumed at least three alcoholic drinks in the last month, and were college basketball fans. Participants were assigned to one of four groups. One group watched a movie that was unexciting (non-dysphoric). A second group watched a recording of a basketball game that did not have much action (non-dysphoric). A third group watched an emotionally charged sports event involving their university’s basketball team. A fourth group engaged in slot machine gambling. Participants completed a survey that asked about their demographics, gambling history, alcohol use and urges, mood states, and state anxiety.
Participants who watched an exciting basketball game and those who gambled reported feeling more energized compared to those who watched a non-dysphoric basketball game or movie. Participants who gambled or watched an exciting sports event had greater urges to drink alcohol compared to those in the other conditions. Participants with greater urges to drink reported higher levels of state anxiety (i.e., feelings of anxiety at the current moment) and vigour compared to those with low urges.
