Research topic and researcher:
Wood, R. T., and Williams, R. J. (2007). Problem gambling on the internet: Implications for internet gambling policy in North America. News Media & Society, 9(3), 520-542. Retrieved October 17, 2007, from Communication and Mass Media Complete EBOSCO database.
Rational of the study:
This research aims at drawing attention to the increasing rate of online gambling which eventually lead to an addiction. However, little is known about the characteristic and the natural tendency that cause people to gamble on the internet. Hence, this research advance on three main hypothesis: one, to what extent do internet gamblers manifest a propensity for problem gambling?; two, what, if any, are the correlates and predictors of problem gambling among internet gamblers?; and finally, in the event of an observed relationship between problem and internet gambling, how might governments best craft internet gambling policies that minimize the relationship?. (Wood and Williams, 2007, 525)
Literature Review:
A previous research done in the domestic certain reported that the number of online gaming sites has increased at a steady rate. But, the occurrence of internet gambling appeared to be relatively low. Moreover, a study conducted in the UK shows that countries that internet gambling is legalized and regulated by the government have only a small portion of the population that gamble on the internet.
However, with the light of problem in gambling, only small portion have been found in North American. Nevertheless, there have been findings that small amount online gamblers may be suffering from problem gambling or relatively to being addicted to gambling. Recent research follow up that people that gamble on the internet are at a high risk of becoming problem gambler, if not now maybe in the future.
Therefore, there is a direct relationship between problem gambling and internet gambling. But researchers found that it’s relatively uncertain to what extent does the internet contributed to problem gambling.
Moreover, according to other researchers (Parke and Griffiths), problem gambling could either be fostered by convenient, easily accessible, anonymous, immersive and potentially more affordable. In other words, gamblers used the online gambling because it’s easy and convenient.
In addition, the quality of the internet and the computer does also contribute to online gambling. Even to some extent researchers found that there is a better chance in winning online than offline.
Final result: after examining the relationship between problem gamblers and internet gambling sites, there were only few internet sites that included safeguard. In other words, most online gambling sites do not educate their client about safe gambling. Hence, how can government create internet gambling policies that minimize that relationship? Based on these grounds the research was proposed.
Theories the researcher used to underline the study: Propensity, problem gamblers, addiction, Canadian Problem Gambling Index, North America, anonymity, Online, policy, Problem, internet gambling, non-problem gambler, low risk gambler moderate-risk gambler and safeguard.
Research Method:
The researcher used online survey to get at those specific items.
Subject of the study:
Understanding the relationship between problem gambler and internet gambling in relative to how government can regulate such issue. There was a completion of survey required in order for the participant to receive a gift. The survey comprised of 46 closed and open-ended questions. This survey was divided into separate sections and required the amount of 10 minutes for completion. An instrument known as Canadian Problem Gambling Index was employed to produce high level of reliability and validity. The survey was classified into four categories: non-problem gambler, low-risk gambler, moderate-risk gambler and problem gamblers. The research sample comprised of 56 percent men and 44 percent women. The range of age was from 18 to 84. The survey includes gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, education, religious belief and disabilities. (Wood and Williams, 2007, 526-530)
Research findings:
Demographic characteristic: There was high rate of unemployment gamblers. There was also high rate of disable people participating on online gambling. Yet most people (61.2%) claimed to have some post-secondary education. Moreover, the research stated that people that used online gambling showed high level of comfort.
Gambling behavior: most internet gamblers spent more time gambling on the internet than offline gamblers. There was also high rate of people who gamble at home than work. Black Jack was the most popular game played by internet gamblers.
In relationship to categories of gambling, over 33.5% were classify as non-problem gambler, 23.9% At risk gambler, 22.6% moderate problem gambler, and 20.1% had severe problem gambler. So, in total 42.7% was considered as problem gamblers. Thus, there is a chance in the future that will change. Hence, if government and online casino will like to legalize gambling, they must as well foster an ethos of responsible gambling among their citizens. These were the four suggestion made by the researcher: Provide internet gamblers with feedback about their problem gambling status, develop internet-based treatment and prevention program, implement controls that regulate and access the use, implement strict controls over advertising and promotions. The author also recommended that more research be conducted about preventing problem gamblers in the future. (Wood and Williams, 2007, 530-536)
My position on this scholarly essay
In short, this scholarly research was worth studying because it addressed the borderline between internets gambling and problem gambling. The research was written clearly and followed a systematic research approach to get at the specific issue underline. The author main argument was to examine the relationship between online gamblers and offline gamblers because little is known about the individual or their propensity of problem gambling. The author proved that there is a steady increase in online gambling via the internet. Hence, if government wants to legalize gambling, it may do so with intention to regulate online gambling. There are three things in this research that makes it worthwhile. First, it reported on past research by systematically underlining the findings; second, it proposed a research to get at the unknown based on the known; and finally, it proposed what could be done in the future to prevent such a problem.
Although, the length of the research was not reported, I still find it very convincing. I also agree with the author that research needs to be conducted about preventing problem gamblers in the future and how government will regulate and control gambling on the internet.
This article makes me wonder whether gambling in general should be legalized.
