“It Always Depends on the Context”
Poker Players' Perceptions of Substance Use at and Beyond the Table
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29173/cgs134Keywords:
poker, substance use, context, motivation, qualitative, players' perceptionsAbstract
While it is well recognized that gambling behaviours are shaped by the contexts in which they occur, less research has investigated the relationship between poker and substance use (i.e., alcohol and other drugs). The current study explores poker players’ perceptions of the relationship between substance use and gambling. This qualitative descriptive study is a secondary data analysis of 25 interviews with poker players conducted as part of a broader prospective cohort project. From the thematic analysis, players described how specific contextual factors, such as social setting and location (e.g., bars, casinos) influenced their substance use. Poker players reported a relationship between substance use and gambling practices. However, players differed greatly in their decisions about whether, and how much, to use alcohol and other drugs, with individuals’ choices depending heavily on contexts (e.g., more inclined to partake when alcohol was available) and motivations (e.g., remaining sober to remain sharp and not impair their intellectual capacity). For those players who considered poker earnings to be their main source of income, increased use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis were reported as a way of dealing with stress, anxiety and a lack of motivation related to their play.
References
Abarbanel, B. L., & Bernhard, B. J. (2012). Chicks with decks: The female lived experience in poker. International Gambling Studies, 12(3), 367–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2012.680900
Assanangkornchai, S., McNeil, E. B., Tantirangsee, N., Kittirattanapaiboon, P., & Thai National Mental Health Survey Team. (2016). Gambling disorders, gambling type preferences, and psychiatric comorbidity among the Thai general population: Results of the 2013 National Mental Health Survey. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(3), 410–418. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.066
Barrault, S., Untas, A., & Varescon, I. (2014). Special features of poker. International Gambling Studies, 14(3), 492–504. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2014.968184
Barrault, S., & Varescon, I. (2013a). Cognitive distortions, anxiety, and depression among regular and pathological gambling online poker players. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16(3), 183–188. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0150
Barrault, S., & Varescon, I. (2013b). Impulsive sensation seeking and gambling practice among a sample of online poker players: Comparison between non pathological, problem and pathological gamblers. Personality and Individual Differences, 55(5), 502–507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.04.022
Bates, F. L. (1956). Position, role, and status: A reformulation of concepts. Social Forces, 34(4), 313–321. https://doi.org/10.2307/2573663
Bergin, M. (2011). NVivo 8 and consistency in data analysis: Reflecting on the use of a qualitative data analysis program. Nurse Researcher, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.7748/nr2011.04.18.3.6.c8457
Binde, P. (2009). Gambling motivation and involvement: A review of social science research. https://prism.ucalgary.ca/bitstream/handle/1880/51055/R2009-20-gambling-motivation-a-review.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Bjerg, O. (2010). Problem gambling in poker: Money, rationality and control in a skill-based social game. International Gambling Studies, 10(3), 239–254. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459795.2010.520330
Boutin, G. (2018). L’entretien de recherche qualitatif: Théorie et pratique [The qualitative research interview: Theory and practice]. Presses de l’Université du Québec.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Brown, K. L., & Russell, A. M. T. (2020). What Can be Done to Reduce the Public Stigma of Gambling Disorder? Lessons from Other Stigmatised Conditions. Journal of gambling studies, 36(1), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-019-09890-9
Bryden, A., Roberts, B., McKee, M., & Petticrew, M. (2012). A systematic review of the influence on alcohol use of community level availability and marketing of alcohol. Health & Place, 18(2), 349–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.11.003
Casey, E. (2003). Gambling and Consumption: Working-Class Women and UK National Lottery Play. Journal of Consumer Culture, 3(2), 245–263. https://doi.org/10.1177/14695405030032005
Casey, E. (2008). Working class women, gambling and the dream of happiness. Feminist Review, 89, 122–137. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40663964
Castrén, S., Basnet, S., Pankakoski, M., Ronkainen, J.-E., Helakorpi, S., Uutela, A., Alho, H., & Lahti, T. (2013). An analysis of problem gambling among the Finnish working-age population: A population survey. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 519. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-519
de Grace, L. A., Knight, C. J., Rodgers, W. M., & Clark, A. M. (2017). Exploring the role of sport in the development of substance addiction. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 28, 46–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.10.001
Demers, A., Kairouz, S., Adlaf, E., Gliksman, L., Newton-Taylor, B., & Marchand, A. (2002). Multilevel analysis of situational drinking among Canadian undergraduates. Social Science & Medicine, 55(3), 415–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(01)00258-1
Desai, R. A., Maciejewski, P. K., Pantalon, M. V, & Potenza, M. N. (2006). Gender differences among recreational gamblers: Association with the frequency of alcohol use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 20(2), 145–153. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-164X.20.2.145
Dufour, M., Morvannou, A., Laverdière, É., Brunelle, N., Kairouz, S., Nolin, M.-A., Nadeau, L., Dussault, F., & Berbiche, D. (2020). Once online poker, always online poker? Poker modality trajectories over two years. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 11(100251). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100251
Dufour, M., Petit, S., & Brunelle, N. (2012). La perception du poker selon les joueurs adeptes: Un jeu qui les distingue [The perception of poker according to avid players: a game that sets them apart]. Criminologie, 45(2), 7–25. https://doi.org/10.7202/1013718ar
Ferris, J., & Wynne, H. J. (2001). The Canadian Problem Gambling Index: Final report Ottawa Ontario: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. https://www.greo.ca/Modules/EvidenceCentre/files/Ferris%20et%20al(2001)The_Canadian_Problem_Gambling_Index.pdf
Ford, M., & Håkansson, A. (2020). Problem gambling, associations with comorbid health conditions, substance use, and behavioural addictions: Opportunities for pathways to treatment. Plos One, 15(1), e0227644. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227644
Fortin, M.-F., & Gagnon, J. (2016). Fondements et étapes du processus de recherche: Méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives. Chenelière éducation
Franco, C. A., Maciejewski, P. K., & Potenza, M. N. (2011). Past-year recreational gambling in a nationally representative sample: Correlates of casino, non-casino, and both casino/non-casino gambling. Psychiatry Research, 188(2), 269–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2011.04.008
Griffiths, M., Wardle, H., Orford, J., Sproston, K., & Erens, B. (2011). Internet gambling, health, smoking and alcohol use: Findings from the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 9(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-009-9246-9
Harford, T. C. (1979). Beverage specific drinking contexts. International Journal of the Addictions, 14(2), 197–205. https://doi.org/10.3109/10826087909060365
Harford, T. C., Dorman, N., & Feinhandler, S. J. (1976). Alcohol consumption in bars: Validation of self-reports against observed behavior. Drinking and Drug Practices Surveyor, 11, 13–15. https://doi.org/10.3109/10826087909060365
Harford, T. C., & Gaines, L. C. (1982). Social drinking contexts. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
Harford, T. C., Wechsler, H., & Rohman, M. (1983). The structural context of college drinking. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 44(4), 722–732. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.1983.44.722
Hopley, A. A. B., Dempsey, K., & Nicki, R. (2012). Texas Hold’em online poker: A further examination. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 10(4), 563–572.
Hraba, J., & Lee, G. (1996). Gender, gambling and problem gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12(1), 83–101. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01533191
Kairouz, S., Gliksman, L., Demers, A., & Adlaf, E. M. (2002). For all these reasons, I do... drink: A multilevel analysis of contextual reasons for drinking among Canadian undergraduates. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 63(5), 600–608. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.2002.63.600
Kairouz, S., & Greenfield, T. K. (2007). A comparative multi‐level analysis of contextual drinking in American and Canadian adults. Addiction, 102(1), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01655.x
Kairouz, S., & Nadeau, L. (2014). Enquête ENJHEU – Québec: Portrait du jeu au Québec: Prevalence, incidence et trajectoires sur quatre ans [ENJHEU-Quebec Survey. Portrait of gambling in Quebec: Prevalence, incidence and trajectories over four years]. https://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/artsci/research/lifestyle-addiction/docs/projects/enhjeu-q/ENHJEU-QC-2012_rapport-final-FRQ-SC.pdf
Kairouz, S., Nadeau, L., & Paradis, C. (2010). ENHJEU Quebec Study: Portrait of gambling in Quebec: Prevalence, incidence and trajectories over four years. https://www.concordia.ca/content/dam/artsci/research/lifestyle-addiction/docs/projects/enhjeu-q/ENHJEU-QUEBEC-Report-28-April-2011-Final.pdf
Kairouz, S., Sowad, A. S. M., Lambo, L., Le Mesurier, J., & Nadeau, J. (2022). Mapping the Conceptualization of Gender in Gambling Literature: A Scoping Review. Critical Gambling Studies. https://doi.org/10.29173/cgs115
Kristiansen, S., & Trabjerg, C. M. (2017). Legal gambling availability and youth gambling behaviour: A qualitative longitudinal study. International Journal of Social Welfare, 26(3), 218–229. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12231
Kyngdon, A., & Dickerson, M. (1999). An experimental study of the effect of prior alcohol consumption on a simulated gambling activity. Addiction, 94(5), 697–707. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.1999.9456977.x
Langham, E., Thorne, H., Browne, M., Donaldson, P., Rose, J., & Rockloff, M. (2015). Understanding gambling related harm: A proposed definition, conceptual framework, and taxonomy of harms. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2747-0
Leino, T., Torsheim, T., Griffiths, M. D., & Pallesen, S. (2021). The relationship between substance use disorder and gambling disorder: A nationwide longitudinal health registry study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494821104224
Li, E., Browne, M., Rawat, V., Langham, E., & Rockloff, M. (2017). Breaking bad: Comparing gambling harms among gamblers and affected others. Journal of Gambling Studies, 33(1), 223–248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-016-9632-8
Liu, T., Maciejewski, P. K., & Potenza, M. N. (2009). The relationship between recreational gambling and substance abuse/dependence: Data from a nationally representative sample. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 100(1–2), 164–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.09.011
Lorains, F. K., Cowlishaw, S., & Thomas, S. A. (2011). Prevalence of comorbid disorders in problem and pathological gambling: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of population surveys. Addiction, 106(3), 490–498. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03300.x
Loroz, P. S. (2004). Casino gambling and aging consumers: Overcoming barriers and reaping the benefits of experiential leisure consumption. Journal of Hospitality & Leisure Marketing, 11(2/3), 115–138. https://doi.org/10.1300/J150v11n02_09
MacKay, T. L., Bard, N., Bowling, M., & Hodgins, D. C. (2014). Do pokers players know how good they are? Accuracy of poker skill estimation in online and offline players. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 419–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.11.006
McCormack, A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2012). What differentiates professional poker players from recreational poker players? A qualitative interview study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 10(2), 243–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-011-9312-y
Merkouris, S. S., Greenwood, C. J., Youssef, G. J., Letcher, P., Vassallo, S., Dowling, N. A., & Olsson, C. A. (2021). Adult Gambling Problems and Histories of Mental Health and Substance Use: Findings from a Prospective Multi-Wave Australian Cohort Study. Journal of clinical medicine, 10(7), 1406. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10071406
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2020). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook. (4th Ed.). Sage Publications.
Morvannou, A., Dufour, M., Brunelle, N., & Roy, É. (2018). Être passionné un peu, beaucoup, énormément? Le concept de la passion chez les joueurs de poker, une étude qualitative [Slightly, very or extremely passionate: The concept of passion among poker players—A qualitative study]. Journal of Gambling Issues, 38, 100–126.
Morvannou, A., Dufour, M., Brunelle, N., Berbiche, D., & Roy, É. (2018). One-year prospective study on passion and gambling problems in poker players. Journal of Gambling Studies, 34(2), 379–391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-017-9706-2
Morvannou, A., Monson, E., Savard, A. C., Kairouz, S., Roy, É., & Dufour, M. (2020). "It did not apply to me": poker players' perspectives of prevention messages. Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique, 111(4), 617–626. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-019-00283-4
O’Connor, J., Dickerson, M., & Phillips, M. (1995). Chasing and its relationship to impaired control over gambling. High Stakes in the Nineties, 2, 169–182.
Okunna, N. C., Rodriguez-Monguio, R., Smelson, D. A., & Volberg, R. A. (2016). An evaluation of substance abuse, mental health disorders, and gambling correlations: An opportunity for early public health interventions. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 14(4), 618–633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9589-3
Paradis, C., Demers, A., Nadeau, L., & Picard, É. (2011a). De la broue dans l’toupet ou Non, les parents boivent moins! [The association between the parental role and alcohol use. Do between-role stressors matter?]. Drogues, Santé et Société, 10(2), 231–261. https://doi.org/10.7202/1013483ar
Paradis, C., Demers, A., Nadeau, L., & Picard, E. (2011b). Parenthood, alcohol intake, and drinking contexts: Occasio furem facit. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 72(2), 259–269. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2011.72.259
Parhami, I., Mojtabai, R., Rosenthal, R. J., Afifi, T. O., & Fong, T. W. (2014). Gambling and the onset of comorbid mental disorders: A longitudinal study evaluating severity and specific symptoms. Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 20(3), 207–219. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.pra.0000450320.98988.7c
Pietrzak, R. H., Morasco, B. J., Blanco, C., Grant, B. F., & Petry, N. M. (2007). Gambling level and psychiatric and medical disorders in older adults: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 15(4), 301–313. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.JGP.0000239353.40880.cc
Potenza, M. N. (2006). Should addictive disorders include non‐substance‐related conditions? Addiction, 101, 142–151. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01591.x
Rak, J. (2021). Pocket Queens: Poker, Women, Stories. Critical Gambling Studies. https://doi.org/10.29173/cgs100
Rash, C. J., Weinstock, J., & Van Patten, R. (2016). A review of gambling disorder and substance use disorders. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 7, 3–13. https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S83460
Rhodes, T. (2002). The ‘risk environment’: A framework for understanding and reducing drug-related harm. International Journal of Drug Policy, 13(2), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0955-3959(02)00007-5
Siler, K. (2010). Social and psychological challenges of poker. Journal of Gambling Studies, 26(3), 401–420. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-009-9168-2
Stewart, S. H., & Zack, M. (2008). Development and psychometric evaluation of a three‐dimensional Gambling Motives Questionnaire. Addiction, 103(7), 1110–1117. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02235.x
Tremblay, J., Rouillard, P., & Sirois, M. (2000). Dépistage/évaluation du besoin d’aide-Alcool/Drogues. Service de recherche CRUV/CRAT-CA.
Shead, N., Hodgins, D. C., & Scharf, D. (2008). Differences between poker players and non-poker-playing gamblers. International Gambling Studies, 8(2), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/14459790802139991
Yassin, N., Afifi, R., Singh, N., Saad, R., & Ghandour, L. (2018). "There Is Zero Regulation on the Selling of Alcohol": The voice of the youth on the context and determinants of alcohol drinking in Lebanon. Qualitative Health Research, 28(5), 733–744. https://doi.org/doi 10.1177/1049732317750563
Zinberg, N. E. (1984). Drug, set, and setting: The basis for controlled intoxicant use. Yale University Press New Haven.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Adèle Morvannou, Eva Monson, Marianne Saint-Jacques, Vincent Wagner, Valérie Aubut, Natacha Brunelle, Magali Dufour
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to Critical Gambling Studies.
