Abstract
Confronted with criticisms focused on the nature of Responsible Gambling (RG), this article suggests that Positive Play (PP) is a conceptual subset of Responsible Gambling and not a fully developed and independent harm prevention or reduction framework. To advance public health initiatives and focus public policy. This article reviews and clarifies some of the confusing and subtle difference between Responsible Gambling and Positive Play. The discussion defines the notion of responsibility, Responsible Gambling, and Positive Play. We recognize that well-developed RG activities permit and encourage the underpinnings of PP. However, when viewed as a dependent measure, PP does not intend to reduce the prevalence of gambling-related harms or prevent the incidence of gambling-related harms. These objectives are the two basic and fundamental requirements to classify any activity as a RG program.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
Barboianu, C. (2022). Understanding your game: A mathematician’s advice for rational and safe gambling. Târgu Jiu. Romania: PhilScience Press.
Blaszczynski, A., Ladouceur, R., & Shaffer, H. J. (2004, Fall). A science-based framework for responsible gambling: The Reno model. Journal of Gambling Studies, 20(3), 301–317.
Blaszczynski, A., Ladouceur, R., & Moodie, C. (2008). The Sydney Laval Universities Gambling Screen: Preliminary data. Addiction Research and Theory, 16, 401–411.
Browne, M., & Rockloff, M. J. (2017). The dangers of conflating gambling-related harm with disordered gambling. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 317–320. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.059.
Browne, M., & Rockloff, M. (2018). Prevalence of gambling-related harm provides evidence for the prevention paradox. Journal of Behavioral Addiction, 7(2), 410–422. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.7.2018.41.
Canale, N., Vieno, A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). The extent and distribution of gambling-related harms and the prevention paradox in a british population survey. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(2), 204–212. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.023.
Carnap, R. (1966). Philosophical foundations of physics; an introduction to the philosophy of science. Basic Books.
Collins, P., Blaszczynski, A., Ladouceur, R., Shaffer, H. J., Fong, D., & Venisse, J. L. (2015). Responsible gambling: Conceptual considerations. Gaming Law Review and Economics, 19(8), 594–599.
Currie, S. R., Hodgins, D. C., Wang, J., el-Guebaly, N., Wynne, H., & Miller, N. V. (2008). Replication of low-risk gambling limits using canadian provincial gambling prevalence data. Journal of Gambling Studies, 24, 321–335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-008-9091-y.
Gebauer, L., LaBrie, R. A., & Shaffer, H. J. (2010). Optimizing DSM–IV–TR classification accuracy: A brief bio-social screen for detecting current gambling disorders among gamblers in the general household population. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry/La Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie, 55, 82–90.
Hing, N., Browne, M., Russell, A., Rockloff, A., Rawat, V., Nicoll, F., & Smith, G. (2019). Avoiding gambling harm: An evidence-based set of safe gambling practices for consumers. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224083.
Hing, N., Browne, M., Russell, A. M. T., Rockloff, M., & Tulloch, C. (2022). Development and randomised controlled trial of safer gambling practices for EGM play. Sydney: NSW Responsible Gambling Fund.
T, K. K., Chen, J. H., & Wu, A. M. S. (2020). Validation and application of the positive play scale adapted for chinese gamblers: Its relation to disordered gambling and gambling attitudes. Frontiers of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00263.
Korn, D. A., & Shaffer, H. J. (1999). Gambling and the health of the public: Adopting a public health perspective. Journal of Gambling Studies, 15(4), 289–365.
Markham, F., Young, M., & Doran, B. (2015). Nov 16). The relationship between player losses and gambling-related harm: Evidence from nationally representative cross-sectional surveys in four countries [Multicenter Study]. Addiction, 111(2), 320–330. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13178.
Peller, A. J., LaPlante, D., & Shaffer, H. (2008). Parameters for safer gambling behavior: Examining the empirical research. Journal of Gambling Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-008-9097-5.
Raisamo, S. U., Mäkelä, P., Salonen, A. H., & Lintonen, T. P. (2015). The extent and distribution of gambling harm in Finland as assessed by the Problem Gambling Severity Index. European Journal of Public Health, 25(4), 716–722. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cku210.
Salkovskis, P. M., Rachman, S., Ladouceur, R., & Freeston, M. (1992). The Definition of Responsibility. Paper Presented at the World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, Toronto.
Seligman, M. E. (1972). February). Learned helplessness. Annual Review of Medicine, 23, 407–412.
Shaffer, H. J., Blaszczynski, A., Ladouceur, R., Collins, P., & Fong, D. (Eds.). (2019). Responsible gambling: Primary stakeholder perspectives. Oxford University Press.
Shaffer, H. J., & Korn, D. A. (2002). Gambling and related mental disorders: a public health analysis. In J. E. Fielding, R. C. Brownson, & B. Starfield (Eds.), Annual Review of Public Health (23), 171–212. Annual Reviews, Inc.
Shaffer, H. J., & Ladouceur, R. (2021). Moving away from individual responsibility: A comment. Journal of Gambling Studies, 37(3), 1071–1078. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-021-10046-xPMID – 34138420.
Stark, S., & Robinson, J. (2021). Online gambling in unprecedented times: Risks and safer gambling strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Gambling Issues, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4309/jgi.2021.47.17.
Wood, R. T. A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015, Dec). Understanding positive play: An exploration of playing experiences and responsible gambling practices. Journal of Gambling Studies, 31(4), 1715–1734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-014-9489-7.
Wood, R. T. A., Wohl, M. J. A., Tabri, N., & Philander, K. (2017). Development of the positive play scale to assess responsible gambling beliefs and behaviours [review]. Research Snapshop.
Wood, R. T. A., Wohl, M. J. A., Tabri, N., & Philander, K. (2017). Measuring responsible gambling amongst players: Development of the positive play scale. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 227. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00227PMID – 28280472.
Funding
Howard Shaffer has received funding from a variety of sources, including book royalties, the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (FAAR), The Healing Lodge of the Seven Nations via the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Indian Health Services (IHS), the Integrated Centre on Addiction Prevention and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals—which receives funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust—DraftKings and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. In addition, during approximately the past 5 years, Shaffer or the Division on Addiction received funding from National Center for Responsible Gambling, National Institutes of Health, the Alcohol Beverage Management Research Fund, the Danish Council for Independent Research, Heineken USA, Inc., bwin.party, St. Francis House, the State of Florida (i.e., as a subcontract to Spectrum Gaming Group), the Massachusetts Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Grant Program (i.e., as a subcontracted evaluator for Worcester House of Corrections), and the Massachusetts Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program—as a sub-contracted evaluator for Cambridge Police Department. Dr. Shaffer also has received speaker honoraria and compensation for consultation from the American Psychological Association, University of Massachusetts, Las Vegas Sands Corp., Davies Ward Phillips and Vineberg, LLP, Freshfelds Bruckhaus Deringer, LLP, and from the Dunes of Easthampton, a residential addiction treatment program, for serving as a consultant. Regarding this project, he received reimbursement from Laval University for travel expenses, but no honorarium associated with the international group on responsible gambling.
Robert Ladouceur has received funding during the last few years for consultancies, book royalties, honoraria for conference presentations, and to cover travel expenses from sources including La Loterie Romande (Switzerland), Club NSW (Australia), Comelot (UK), La Française des Jeux (France), Loto Québec (Québec, Canada), and National Lottery (Belgium). He is a member of the Independent Assessment Panel of the World Lottery Association.
Professor Blaszczynski has conducted research funded by Australian or international government, or government-related funding agencies, and industry operators. These include Gambling Research Exchange Ontario, ClubsNSW, Dooleys Club Lidcombe, Aristocrat Leisure Industries, Australian Communications Media Authority, Gaming Technologies Association, Gambling Research Australia, Responsible Wagering Australia, Commonwealth Bank, NSW Department of Trade and Investment (NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing), La Loterie Romande (Switzerland), Camelot (United Kingdom), La Française des Jeux (France), Loto-Quebec (Canada), and National Lottery (Belgium), and the National Association for Gambling Studies. He is on the responsible gambling advisory panel for Crown Casino.rofessor Blaszczynski has received honorariums from Manitoba Gambling Research Program and GambleAware (formerly UK Responsible Gambling Trust) for grant reviews, and royalties from several publishers for books and book chapters. He has also received travel and accommodation expenses from Leagues Clubs, Gambling Research Exchange Ontario, USA National Council on Problem Gambling, Japan Medical Society for Behavioural Addiction, Le Comité d’organisation Congrès international sur les troubles addictifs, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, and New Horizons (British Columbia Lottery Corporation to attend conferences and meetings.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
All of the authors declare that their work has been conducted with the aim of enhancing responsible gambling and harm minimization policies and practices, training counsellors in the treatment interventions, and advancing our understanding of the psychology of gambling.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic Supplementary Material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Shaffer, H.J., Ladouceur, R. & Blaszczynski, A. A Comment: Positive Play is a Subset of Responsible Gambling. J Gambl Stud 39, 1019–1025 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-023-10204-3
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-023-10204-3