Carleton University Gambling Laboratory

This companion handout should be used in alongside with the GREaT Flowchart. The GREaT Flowchart is designed to help the gambling researcher navigate through the complex Knowledge Translation and Exchange (KTE) process. Please note that this companion handout, as well as the flowchart, exists as living documents.

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Abstract

Responsible gambling tools are designed to help people gamble within their means. Empirical assessments have demonstrated their effectiveness in preventing problematic play among recreational gamblers. Herein, we contend that responsible gambling tools may also have clinical utility. In this light, we review some of the available responsible gambling tools and discuss why and under what conditions each may be appropriate in a clinical setting. In doing so, we point to areas that will benefit from empirical research with clinical populations. First, we argue that education-based tools may be used to undermine the client's cognitive distortions and promote adherence to a pre-set limit. Second, we discuss monetary and time limit setting tools as an effective means to teach clients with moderation goals (in contrast to abstinence goals) how to minimize excessive play. Lastly, we suggest that personalized feedback (e.g., player account data or personalized gambling behaviour reports) provides a fairly unbiased assessment of the client's gambling activities that can facilitate discussions about the future course of treatment. Due to the paucity of attention focused on the clinical applications of responsible gambling tools, our assertions are guarded, but nonetheless highlight the need for research in this domain.