Mobile gambling games are casino-style games played on smartphones that are increasingly becoming popular with players due to their ease of use and accessibility at any time and place. Offering various betting options with real cash prizes up for grabs as well as bonus features such as free chips, extra spins and more; mobile gambling games have quickly become the go-to choice among smartphone gamers looking for fun casino-style entertainment.
Most gambling apps are optimized to work on iOS and Android devices, and many feature real money betting as well as play money options where users can win virtual credits. Many gambling apps also feature live betting where users can place bets during live sports events for added excitement!
However, for an optimal experience the best gambling apps should be designed specifically for specific devices. Such applications take full advantage of all features specific to that device while offering a premium gaming experience. They’re compatible with multiple operating systems and virus-free. Plus they feature high-resolution displays with touchscreen functionality for an immersive gambling experience not possible with regular computer screens.
Mobile gambling has become an increasingly common phenomenon, yet its relationship to addiction remains unknown. Existing research relies on self-report or ad hoc markers of risky behavior (such as the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Beck Depression Inventory or Computerised Contingency Judgement Task).
Mobile technology could have significant ramifications on the nature and prevalence of gambling, necessitating an understanding of its unique psychological and social aspects to guide future research. To gain this insight, this study will analyze how an artificial gambling app affected participants’ mobile gambling behavior by collecting both behavioral and contextual data on participants’ phones.
In this research project, a simulated gambling app offering fixed rate reinforcement on a random ratio schedule as well as various levels of reward will be employed. This experimental design can be compared to previous studies of real-world gambling apps to observe the impact of mobile technology on addictive patterns. Participants will complete several questionnaires, such as Gambling Questions and a contingency judgement task to explore illusion of control before being provided with the app for testing. Contextual and behavioral data will be recorded, along with GPS coordinates each time someone places a bet using the app. These results will then be compared with those collected from participants who use it without being prodded and to controls who don’t use it, providing evidence of its influence on smartphone-based behaviors. This research could serve as the first empirical demonstration of an app’s impact.