A study in online poker

Overview of the Partnership

In 2005, bwin, a leading online gaming provider, established a partnership with the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. This collaboration led to a significant study on online poker behavior, which involved a large sample of 3,445 online poker players over a two-year period. The study is expected to be published later this year.

Objectives of the Study

The primary goal of the partnership was to create a scientific basis for understanding online gaming behavior and its implications for responsible gaming. The research aimed to provide insights into gaming behaviors and assess the effectiveness of responsible gaming measures.

Key Findings

The study uncovered two important insights:

Online vs. Offline Gaming: The belief that online gaming is inherently more problematic than offline gaming was debunked. The study found no substantial evidence to support this claim.
Effectiveness of Responsible Gaming Measures: The research demonstrated that responsible gaming measures have a positive impact.

This study is notable for being the largest longitudinal and first epidemiological study of its kind in the field of online poker. It analyzed the behavior of Internet poker players over an extended period, revealing that players tend to exhibit rational betting behavior based on their wins and losses.

Profile of the Average Poker Player

The study identified the following characteristics of the typical poker player:

Average Age: 28 years old
Gender: Predominantly male
Activity Level: Active for a median duration of six and a half months, playing approximately every three days

Future Research Directions

The next phase of research will focus on developing algorithms to identify behavioral patterns and risk indicators associated with disordered gaming. According to bwin’s Co-CEO Manfred Bodner, this ongoing research is crucial for further understanding and managing online poker player behavior.