TY - JOUR
T1 - Interface predictability changes betting behavior in computerized gambling
AU - Tanaka, Takumi
AU - Kawabata, Hideaki
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by KAKENHI from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [grant number JP16H01515 ]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analyses, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - Recent development in human-computer interfaces (HCIs) including electronic gaming machines and online gambling has exposed novices to the risks of gambling-related harm. Interface characteristics not only reflect the structure of the game, they also shape users' sense of agency concerning their gambling. Although studies have indicated the importance of causal attribution in risky gambling, the roles of the sense of agency and its largest factor, predictability, remains unclear. Therefore, we assessed the impact of interface predictability on gambling tendencies. Participants played a computerized card-guessing game on two interfaces with distinct visual feedback predictability related to users' card choice operation (i.e., the consistency between the direction of mouse motion and cards). Between these interfaces, we compared participants’ subjective estimation of win probability and their wager history in each trial. Their subjective win probability did not differ between conditions. Intriguingly, participants only decreased their wagers following a loss when the interface was predictable, but not when it was unpredictable. Moreover, the effects of predictability of a “winning run” depended on individual difference in illusory control. This study provides evidence that feeling of agency mediates the impact of interface features on gambling. This may contribute to interface design for a healthy gambling experience.
AB - Recent development in human-computer interfaces (HCIs) including electronic gaming machines and online gambling has exposed novices to the risks of gambling-related harm. Interface characteristics not only reflect the structure of the game, they also shape users' sense of agency concerning their gambling. Although studies have indicated the importance of causal attribution in risky gambling, the roles of the sense of agency and its largest factor, predictability, remains unclear. Therefore, we assessed the impact of interface predictability on gambling tendencies. Participants played a computerized card-guessing game on two interfaces with distinct visual feedback predictability related to users' card choice operation (i.e., the consistency between the direction of mouse motion and cards). Between these interfaces, we compared participants’ subjective estimation of win probability and their wager history in each trial. Their subjective win probability did not differ between conditions. Intriguingly, participants only decreased their wagers following a loss when the interface was predictable, but not when it was unpredictable. Moreover, the effects of predictability of a “winning run” depended on individual difference in illusory control. This study provides evidence that feeling of agency mediates the impact of interface features on gambling. This may contribute to interface design for a healthy gambling experience.
KW - Gambler's fallacy
KW - Gambling
KW - Human-computer interface
KW - Illusion of control
KW - Risk-taking
KW - Sense of agency
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U2 - 10.1016/j.chb.2020.106387
DO - 10.1016/j.chb.2020.106387
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85083522574
SN - 0747-5632
VL - 110
JO - Computers in Human Behavior
JF - Computers in Human Behavior
M1 - 106387
ER -
