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. 2018 Oct 31;7(4):903–916. doi: 10.1556/2006.7.2018.96

Table 1.

Characteristics and main findings of selected studies of self-excluders

Study Online/terrestrial Target population n Design Results Study quality
Dragicevic et al. (2015) Online Online gamblers (76% living in Germany) n = 1,218 (IG: n = 347; CG: n = 871) Cross-sectional with control group 78% of self-excluders were male 0.80
61% self-excluded within the first 15 days, 25% within the same day of opening the gambling account
Time between opening account and self-exclusion was shortest among men under 25 years old
Average duration of a gambling session was 26 min, with on average 9 gambling sessions per day and about 20 gambling hours per month
Haefeli et al. (2015) Online German- and English-speaking online gamblers n = 300 (IG: n = 150; CG: n = 150) Cross-sectional with control group 95% of self-excluders were male 0.85
Average age of self-excluders: 32 years
Haeusler (2016) Online Online gamblers (bwin.com) (98% living in Europe) n = 2,696 (IG: n = 1,348; CG: n = 1,348) Cross-sectional with control group 93% of self-excluders were male 1.00
Average age of self-excluders: 31 years
Self-excluders made withdrawals and deposits more often and used higher amounts than non-self-excluders
Self-excluders canceled their withdrawals and deposits more often than non-self-excluders
Hayer and Meyer (2011a) Online Self-excluders (win2day.at) T0: n = 259 Longitudinal 69% of self-excluders were male 0.75
T1: n = 29 Average age of self-excluders: 36 years
T2: n = 22 Casino games most often reported as most problematic gambling activity
T3: n = 20 68% problem online gamblers (Lie–Bet Questionnaire)
Decision to self-exclude seen as a rather spontaneous action
60% reported that gambling sessions lasted on average at least 60 min
Hayer and Meyer (2011b) Terrestrial Self-excluders from casinos in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland T0: n = 152 Longitudinal 72% of self-excluders were male 0.85
T1: n = 39 Average age of self-excluders: 41 years
T2: n = 32
T3: n = 28
Almost half of the self-excluders excluded themselves due to gambling on slot machines
51% pathological gamblers (DSM-IV)
Decision to self-exclude reported as a rather considered choice
On average, first casino visit at the age of 28 years, time between first gambling and appearance of gambling related problems was 8 years
28% reported an average casino visit lasted at least 5 hr, for 13% more than 7 hr
40% reported about an expenditure of at least 1.235 USD per casino visit
54% initiated self-exclusion due to feelings of losing control
13% self-excluded due to problems at work caused by casino gambling
Hing and Nuske (2012) Terrestrial Self-excluders in South Australia Survey: n = 36 (additional phone interview: n = 23) Quantitative and qualitative 56% aimed for abstinence 0.65
Monetary motives reported as extremely significant
Many self-excluded due to advice from family or friends
63% stated that self-exclusion must be better advertised
Most self-excluders tried to raise additional funds to continue gambling
Hing, Nuske, Tolchard, and Russell (2015) Terrestrial Problem gamblers in Queensland (Australia) n = 103 (self-exclusion and counseling: n = 34; only self-exclusion: n = 19; only counseling: n = 33; CG: n = 17) Qualitative Over 50% of self-excluders receiving counseling aimed for complete abstinence 0.65
One third of self-excluders not receiving counseling were aiming for abstinence; the majority wanted only to reduce gambling
Hing, Russell, Tolchard, et al. (2015) Terrestrial Self-excluders and gamblers receiving counseling in Queensland (Australia) T0: n = 86 (self-exclusion and counseling: n = 34; only self-exclusion: n = 19; only counseling: n = 33) Longitudinal EGMs most problematic gambling form1.800 USD monthly gambling expenditure 6 months prior self-exclusionSelf-excluders had higher monthly gambling expenditures than non-self-excludersHigh urge to gamble in the last 6 month preceding self-exclusion (Gambling Urge Scale) 0.90
T1: n = 64 (self-exclusion and counseling: n = 26; only self-exclusion: n = 14; only counseling: n = 24)
T2: n = 51 (self-exclusion and counseling: n = 23; only self-exclusion: n = 6; only counseling: n = 22)
Hing et al. (2014) Terrestrial Regular gamblers in Queensland (Australia) n = 103
(IG: n = 53; CG: n = 50)
Qualitative EGMs reported as causing the most gambling related problems
Over 50% aimed to achieve complete abstinence
Motives which concerned financial aspects most frequently reported
Impossibility to self-exclude from several gambling venues at the same time as a barrier
0.80
LaBrie et al. (2007) Terrestrial Self-excluders from casinos in Missouri (USA) n = 6,599 Cross-sectional 58% of self-excluders were male 0.95
Average age of self-excluders: 43 years
Ladouceur et al. (2000) Terrestrial Self-excluders from a casino in Quebec n = 220 Cross-sectional 62% of self-excluders were male 1.00
Average age of self-excluders: 41 years
95% pathological gamblers (SOGS)
39% indicated that, except of the casino staff, nobody got informed about their decision to self-exclude
83% felt unable to stop gambling by their own control
87% reported having lost a large amount of money at the casino overall (Median: 2.000 USD); 17% reported about an overall loss of more than 20.000 USD
66% borrowed money in order to continue gambling
Ladouceur et al. (2007) Terrestrial Self-excluders from casinos in Quebec (Canada) T0: n = 161 Longitudinal 60% of self-excluders were male 0.82
T1: n = 117 Average age of self-excluders: 44 years
T2: n = 83 61% indicated playing on EGMs as their favorite form of gambling
T3: n = 60
T4: n = 53
73% pathological gamblers (DSM-V); 88% pathological gamblers (SOGS)
65% reported having very low or no control over their gambling behavior
50% reported about an overall loss of more than 25.000 USD
61% borrowed money in order to continue gambling
Nelson et al. (2010) Terrestrial Self-excluders from casinos in Missouri (USA) n = 113 Longitudinal 45% of self-excluders were male 0.95
Average age of self-excluders: 45 years
Number of gamblers using gambling therapies more than doubled after enrolment to self-exclusion
58% of self-excluders were married
Nower and Blaszczynski (2006) Terrestrial Self-excluders from casinos in Missouri (USA) n = 2,670 Cross-sectional Women implemented self-exclusions at a significantly older age than men 0.98
Male self-excluders more likely to be married than female self-excluders
Female self-excluders reported an average casino visit expenditure of about 1.091 USD; male self-excluders of about 1.673 USD
Male (9%) self-excluders excluded themselves more often in order to save their jobs than female self-excluders (0%)
Nower and Blaszczynski (2008) Terrestrial Self-excluders from casinos in Missouri (USA) n = 1,601 (18- to 35-year-olds: n = 490; 36- to 55-year-olds: n = 950; over 56-year-olds: n = 161) Cross-sectional Regaining control as main motive 1.00
Gambling on slot machines most frequently played
Older self-excluders more likely to be married than younger self-excluders
Older self-excluders reported the desire to save their marriage less often than younger and middle-aged self-excluders
Younger and middle-aged self-excluders excluded themselves more often in order to save their jobs than older self-excluders
Tremblay et al. (2008) Terrestrial Self-excluders who signed for the improved self-exclusion program for a casino in Montreal Self-excluders who signed for the improved self-exclusion program: n = 857; completed the appreciation questionnaire at the mandatory meeting: n = 116 (voluntary meeting: n = 39; mandatory meeting: n = 77) Longitudinal 15 hr of gambling per week (61 hr per month) 0.73
4.000 USD monthly spent for gambling preceding the self-exclusion

Note. IG: intervention group; CG: control group; EGM: Electronic Gambling Machines; SOGS: South Oaks Gambling Screen.