Gamblers' irrational thinking about chance events: the 'double switching' concept

This study investigates the disparity between gamblers' reports showing rationality toward chance-governed activity and their actual behaviour while gambling on a video lottery terminal. The 'double switching' concept is introduced as the shift from a rational perception of gambling events (switch on) to a behavioural manifestation of irrational cognition related to gambling (switching off), and back on to a rational perception (switch on). It was hypothesised that while playing on video lottery terminals some players would behave irrationally even if, before and after playing, they report perceiving the game as a purely chance-governed activity. Results showed that most players switch off their rational beliefs when gambling, and that some of these players switch them back on after gambling. These findings open new avenues of research related to gamblers' cognitive and behavioural reactions. The theoretical and practical impacts of these results are discussed in the context of gambling education and prevention.