Abstract
The present study evaluated the effects of limited and unlimited stakes on motivational and cognitive activities of roulette players. Earlier studies have shown that irrational thinking dominates rational thinking during gambling. It was hypothesized that subjects in the limited stakes condition would be less motivated to play and would verbalize fewer irrational cognitions than subjects who were allowed to bet freely. Two groups of 15 individuals played 50 trials of American roulette. The results showed that, although each group emitted more irrational than rational thoughts, there was no difference between the groups in the percentage of irrational verbalizations. One unexpected difference between the groups was found. Subjects in the limited stakes condition made riskier bets than subjects in the unlimited stakes condition. Possible explanations for this difference are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abt, V., Smith, J.F., & Christiansen, E.M. (1985).The business of risk: Commercial gambling in mainstream America. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas.
Blascowitch, J., Ginsburg, G.P., & Howe, R.C. (1975). Blackjack and the risky shift, II: Monetary stakes.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 11 224–232.
Blascowitch, J., Veach, T.L., & Ginsburg, G.P. (1973). Blackjack and the risky shift.Sociometry, 36 42–55.
Gaboury, A., & Ladouceur, R. (1987).Irrational thinking and gambling. Paper presented at the Seventh International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking, Reno, Nevada.
Karen, G., Wagenaar, W.A. & Pleit-Kuiper, A. (1984). The multiple objectives of gamblers.Acta Psychologica, 56 167–178.
Ladouceur, R., Gaboury, A., Dumont, M., & Rochette, P. (1987).Gambling: The relationship between the frequency of wins and irrational thinking. Paper presented at the meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association, Vancouver, Canada.
Ladouceur, R., & Mayrand, M. (1986). Caractéristiques psychologiques de la prise de risque monétaire des joueurs et des non-joueurs à la roulette.International Journal of Psychology, 21 433–443.
Ladouceur, R., & Mayrand, M. (1987). The level of involvement and the timing of betting in roulette.The Journal of Psychology, 121 169–176.
Ladouceur, R., Mayrand, M., & Talbot, C. (1987) Prise de risque en fonction de la présence ou l'absence de stratégies dans un jeu de hasard et d'argent.Revue Québécoise de Psychologie, 8 44–53.
Ladouceur, R., Mayrand, M., & Tourigny, Y. (1987). Risk-taking behavior in gamblers and nongamblers during prolonged exposure.Journal of Gambling Behavior, 3 115–122.
Ladouceur, R., Tourigny, M., & Mayrand, M. (1986). Familiarity, group exposure, and risk taking behavior in gambling.The Journal of Psychology, 120 45–49.
Letarte, A., Ladouceur, R., & Mayrand, M. (1986). Primary and secondary illusory control and risk-taking in gambling (roulette).Psychological Reports, 58 299–302.
Perkins, D.N. (1979).A primer on introspection. Paper presented at the Convention of the American Theater Association. New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors wish to thank Valerie Lorenz for her helpful comments and Michel Dumont and Serge Leclerc for conducting the study.
Acknowledgement: this research was supported by a grant from the Consel Québécois de la Recherche Sociale.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ladouceur, R., Gaboury, A. Effects of limited and unlimited stakes on gambling behavior. J Gambling Stud 4, 119–126 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020108
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01020108