Previous research has shown that online poker players may be at a high risk of developing gambling problems and that there are various personality traits that may be associated with such risk. An online survey comprising 256 poker players (50.8 % professional players and 49.2 % recreational players) examined various aspects of their poker playing behavior. The goals of the study were to investigate: (i) the playing motivations of recreational and professional Texas Hold’em poker players, (ii) the psychological characteristics of online poker players in relation to narcissism, impulsivity, self-esteem, and problem gambling, and (iii) the differences between professional and recreational poker player on these psychological variables. Results showed that only 1.6 % poker players met the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling (n=4). Generally, poker players had low scores on narcissism and impulsivity, and high scores on self-esteem. Implications for the study of online poker gambling are also discussed.
Roberta Biolcati, Stefano Passini, Mark D. Griffiths (2015). All-in and Bad Beat: Professional Poker Players and Pathological Gambling. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION, 13(1), 19-32 [10.1007/s11469-014-9506-1].
All-in and Bad Beat: Professional Poker Players and Pathological Gambling
BIOLCATI, ROBERTA;PASSINI, STEFANO;
2015
Abstract
Previous research has shown that online poker players may be at a high risk of developing gambling problems and that there are various personality traits that may be associated with such risk. An online survey comprising 256 poker players (50.8 % professional players and 49.2 % recreational players) examined various aspects of their poker playing behavior. The goals of the study were to investigate: (i) the playing motivations of recreational and professional Texas Hold’em poker players, (ii) the psychological characteristics of online poker players in relation to narcissism, impulsivity, self-esteem, and problem gambling, and (iii) the differences between professional and recreational poker player on these psychological variables. Results showed that only 1.6 % poker players met the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling (n=4). Generally, poker players had low scores on narcissism and impulsivity, and high scores on self-esteem. Implications for the study of online poker gambling are also discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
