Are Poker Players Aware of the Change in Their Poker Habits? Point of View of the Players and the PGSI

Poker playing is a concern because of the large amounts of money spent and the high prevalence of gambling problems. Few studies have taken an interest in poker players’ (PPs’) perspectives. The goal of this qualitative study was to describe PPs’ perceptions of the change in their poker playing and to compare their perception to the variation in the score of a screening tool. A convenience sample of 25 PPs participated in a qualitative interview and completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) 2 years in a row. Of these 25 PPs, 19 perceived a decrease in their poker habits, three perceived an increase, and the other three, no change. The perception of 60% of the PPs was inconsistent with the PGSI; most of those who perceived a decrease in fact had an increase. This study highlights how difficult it is for gamblers to be aware of the changes in their gambling and the importance to develop tools for responsible gambling. These tools would allow gamblers to become aware of their current gambling habits and their evolution.