Researchers in Australia are always searching for answers regarding gambling addiction. They aim to study human behaviour and gambling systems to determine how to best reduce problem gambling rates across the country. One of the latest studies on the topic tests whether or not ‘jackpot expiry’ features would be effective in helping players make responsible gambling decisions.
According to ABC News, the jackpot expiry counter is a new tool that is best tested by researchers at Central Queensland University. While the player spins the reels on pokies, the jackpot expiry counter will tell them when they are no longer eligible for the jackpot prize. "It allows people to consider whether they want to continue gambling.
They can if they wish for pure recreation, but they are locked out of winning the jackpot,” says lead author Matthew Rockloff, an associate professor at CQ University. 130 volunteers took part in the study. They were give $20 for their time and then asked if they would wager on laptop-based pokies.
The researcher team noted that players slowed their gambling speed and stopped playing altogether when the jackpot expiry message was revealed. This resulted in players walking away with more money in the end. “Players receiving the ‘expiry’ message for a cash jackpot quit with significantly more money remaining on the machine,” the study’s abstract reads.
“Therefore, jackpot expiry was effective in limiting player losses, while there was no evidence that jackpot expiry reduced self-rated player enjoyment of the simulated EGM experience”. The study offers some positive insight into a gambling system that could really help to improve problem gambling rates across the country.
Of course, the researchers will have to test the software in a real gambling environment before making any recommendations about its usefulness at pokie clubs and casinos.
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