Bernadeta Lelonek-Kuleta

The aim of the study was to identify factors that may be associated with the risky use of loot box use (RLBU). A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1358 Polish gamers (555 males, M = 34.56 years, SD = 10.53) who had opened loot boxes within 12 months. Participants completed measures of RLBU, gaming disorder symptoms, problem gambling, gaming motivation, and perceived stress and answered questions on the box-related cognitions and use. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that RLBU was positively associated with frequency of loot box use and spending money, gaming disorder symptoms, gambling problems and higher perceived stress. Participants perceived loot boxes as a positive element of video games and a good way to earn real money. Risky loot box users were motivated to game for achievement and escapism reasons. Females achieved higher scores in RLBU than males and there was a negative relationship between age and RLBU among female gamers. The results suggest that loot box use is associated with online gaming-related activities. The mechanisms underlying RLBU are likely analogous to those observed in other behavioural addictions - particularly gaming and gambling disorders. Excessive engagement with loot boxes may serve as an escapist coping strategy in the context of heightened stress and deficits in stress management. Longitudinal studies based on psychological theories of needs are recommended.

Loot boxes are in-game items offering randomised rewards, often purchased with real money, and share structural similarities with gambling. Risky loot box use (RLBU) has been associated with gaming disorder (GD) symptoms, gambling-related cognitions, and financial harms. This study examined psychological correlates of RLBU in a sample of Polish gamers. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 433 active gamers (216 female, M = 26.95 years, SD = 4.80), who had used loot boxes in the past 12 months. Participants completed measures of RLBU, GD symptoms, craving for gaming, self-control dimensions, flow, immersion, gaming platform use, and time spent on specific game genres. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that RLBU was positively associated with daily loot box use, purchasing loot boxes with real money, flow (absorption), immersion, craving for gaming, and GD symptoms. RLBU was negatively associated with self-control in the goal maintenance domain. Additionally, computer gaming was associated with higher RLBU compared to mobile gaming; however, this relationship was attenuated when psychological variables were included. No specific game genre was significantly associated with RLBU. These findings may suggest that immersive and absorbing gaming experiences, combined with low ability to maintain long-term goals, may increase susceptibility to RLBU, particularly when reinforced by monetary involvement and frequent use. The results may highlight the need for prevention strategies addressing self-control, gaming-related craving, and cognitive biases related to loot box outcomes, as well as consideration of structural game design elements that may foster problematic engagement.

Background: The aim of the study was to identify psychological predictors of particular patterns of playing pay-to-win games: coping strategies and motivation to play. Methods: The article presents the results of the online cross-sectional study conducted among online pay-to-win gamers (n = 868), defined as those who have made payments in online games in order to gain an advantage over gamers who refuse to pay. Results: The patterns of P2W gaming differed in their predictors; the pattern of larger contributions is associated with self-enhancement motivation, and the pattern of small frequent contributions is associated with social motivation and coping directed to escape from problems. Conclusions: Behavioral patterns of gaming are associated with different gaming motivations and strategies. The social factor seemed to differentiate between the most distinct types of players. Recognition of these specific patterns can be an essential factor in the adequate understanding of P2W gaming behavior.

This study is based on the Conservation of Resources theory and investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated resource loss on gambling behaviour among Polish gamblers. The study surveyed 585 individuals engaged in land-based gambling before the pandemic. Participants completed computer-assisted web interviews, responding to questions regarding land-based and online gambling frequencies, the Problem Gambling Severity Index, and the Inventory of Loss of Resources in Pandemics. The findings revealed significant shifts in gambling behaviour due to pandemic-related restrictions. Land-based gambling declined during lockdowns and the third wave of the study, while online gambling surged as gamblers transitioned from land-based venues. Gamblers tended to return to land-based options as restrictions eased. Over consecutive waves, participants reported decreasing resource loss levels. Significantly, resource loss was influenced by gambling frequency rather than vice versa. Both types of gambling experienced parallel declines at the beginning of the pandemic, which subsided as the new situation became normalised. Players engaging more in gambling experienced more significant resource losses during the pandemic. Those with more resources at the pandemic’s onset adapted more readily, whereas individuals with limited resources faced resource loss. Conclusions Even with stable gambling levels, heavy gamblers at baseline were at higher risk for issues. The dynamics between resource loss and gambling and problem gambling supported the resource loss spiral concept.

Background and Aims: This study is based on the Conservation of Resources theory and investigates theimpact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated resource loss on gambling behaviour among Polishgamblers.Methods: The study surveyed 585 individuals engaged in land-based gambling before the pandemic.Participants completed computer-assisted web interviews, responding to questions regarding land-basedand online gambling frequencies, the Problem Gambling Severity Index, and the Inventory of Loss ofResources in Pandemics.Results: The findings revealed significant shifts in gambling behaviour due to pandemic-relatedrestrictions. Land-based gambling declined during lockdowns and the third wave of the study, whileonline gambling surged as gamblers transitioned from land-based venues. Gamblers tended to return toland-based options as restrictions eased. Over consecutive waves, participants reported decreasingresource loss levels. Significantly, resource loss was influenced by gambling frequency rather than viceversa.Discussion: Both types of gambling experienced parallel declines at the beginning of the pandemic, whichsubsided as the new situation became normalised. Players engaging more in gambling experienced moresignificant resource losses during the pandemic. Those with more resources at the pandemic's onsetadapted more readily, whereas individuals with limited resources faced resource loss.Conclusions: Even with stable gambling levels, heavy gamblers at baseline were at higher risk for issues.The dynamics between resource loss and gambling and problem gambling supported the resource lossspiral concept.

Cel pracy: Celem badania było prześledzenie zmian w zaangażowaniu polskich graczy hazardowych w hazard internetowy i pozainternetowy, w powiązaniu z czasowym ograniczeniem dostępności hazardu stacjonarnego na skutek pierwszego lockdownu.Metoda: Metodą kwestionariusza internetowego zebrano wyniki od 585 graczy. Warunkiem włączenia do próby było uprawianie hazardu stacjonarnego przed 15.03.2020. Badanych zapytano o uprawianie hazardu w Internecie i poza nim w okresie przed pierwszym lockdownem (przed 03.2020), w trakcie lockdownu (15.03. – 10.05.2020) oraz sześciu miesięcy po zakończeniu lockdownu. W analizach uwzględniono także nasilenie zaburzenia hazardowego (mierzone za pomocą kwestionariusza PGSI) oraz powody ograniczenia lub nasilenia zachowań hazardowych.Wyniki: Dominującą tendencją wśród graczy offline było utrzymanie aktywności hazardowej na tym samym poziomie lub jej ograniczenie w okresie lockdownu (blisko 95% graczy). Ograniczenie gry wyjaśniano: ograniczeniami finansowymi oraz ograniczonym dostępem do gier poza Internetem. Nasilenie gry offline tłumaczono: wolnym czasem, potrzebą odreagowania stresu i potrzebą gotówki. Spośród 394 osób uprawiających przed pandemią tylko hazard offline, 30 osób zaczęło uprawiać podczas pandemii hazard online. Inicjacja uprawiania hazardu online, jak również nasilenie hazardu online lub offline były powiązane z większym nasileniem symptomów zaburzenia hazardowego.Wnioski: Nasilenie zaangażowania w hazard w okresie pandemii w badanej grupie było zjawiskiem marginalnym i powiązanym z problemowym wzorcem jego uprawiania.

Background: The relationship between religiosity and gambling behaviors presents a complex and multifaceted picture. Prior research has yielded mixed results, highlighting the need to examine existing literature systematically. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to explore the correlation between various levels of religiosity and gambling behaviors and attitudes among adolescents and adults. It also seeks to understand how socio-demographic, religious, and gambling-related factors, as well as methodological characteristics of studies, moderate this relationship.Methods: The review, including a meta-analysis, will be conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. It will include peerreviewed empirical studies involving adolescents and adults, and using measures of religiosity and gambling at the individual level. Studies such as meta-analyses, technical reports, study protocols, theoretical articles, preprints, conference abstract, book chapters, Ph.D. dissertations or MA theses and those reporting secondary data or involving gambling-like activities will be excluded. We will search Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PsycTESTS, PsycTHERAPY, PsycARTICLES, ERIC, and Medline. Risk of bias in the included studies is assessed through established methods. The synthesis of results comprises two approaches: narrative synthesis, suitable for both qualitative and quantitative research, and a meta-analysis for quantitatively synthesizing correlations between religiosity and gambling. This dual approach includes tabulating summary data, checking for heterogeneity, and evaluating the impact of study quality on results.Results: Our preliminary search yielded approximately 370 articles searching title and abstract and about 1460 searching full text. After rigorous screening and quality assessment, the final selection will provide a nuanced understanding of the relationship between religiosity and gambling. We anticipate revealing the multifaceted roles of religiosity, including protective and risk factors across different populations.

Online gambling has demonstrated a significant and growing impact on overall gambling involvement. To examine online gambling practices and associated problems, we conducted surveys with national samples of Internet users in several European countries. The objective of this paper is to provide a portrait of online gambling practices and problems in five European countries (i.e., France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Poland) with different online gambling regulatory systems. This paper is the first presenting national comparisons of online gambling practices. Participants reported on their gameplay patterns, demographic characteristics, gambling-related problems, gambling frequency, average spending on different online gambling activities, and offline gambling participation over the past 12 months. The Problem Gambling Severity Index was used to assess the severity of gambling problems in relation to online gambling (Ferris & Wynne, 2001 in The Canadian Problem Gambling Index: Final report, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, 2001). Pairwise logistic regressions examined the association between problem gambling and sociodemographic variables as well as gambling patterns and problem gambling. In all countries except Italy, the most popular online gambling activity was lotteries with nearly three quarters of participants reporting participation. The prevalence of at-risk and problem gambling was high in all countries with Poland reporting the highest prevalence and Switzerland the lowest. Gamblers who participated in gambling activities other than lottery were more likely to experience gambling-related problems. The rates in the present study are well above the levels usually found in surveys. High online gambling frequency, high spending, and participation in multiple online gambling activities were significantly associated with experiencing gambling-related problems.