Narcissism is a risk factor for strategic gamblers, study finds

A study of gamblers in France found that narcissism is associated with problem gambling among strategic gamblers. Perception of personal luck (how lucky a person thinks he/she is) was associated with problem gambling among mixed gamblers. The paper was published in Alcoologie et Addictologie.

Gambling is the act of risking money or valuables on games of chance or games with uncertain outcomes in the hope of winning more. Gamblers can be categorized based on the gambling activities they engage in: non-strategic gamblers, strategic gamblers, and mixed gamblers.

Non-strategic gamblers engage in gambling activities based on pure chance**,** such as playing slot machines or buying scratch cards. The outcomes of these games are not affected by the gamblers’ skill. Strategic gamblers play games where skill can affect the outcome**,** such as poker, blackjack, or sports betting. Mixed gamblers engage in both strategic and non-strategic gambling activities.

While gambling is a leisure activity or a pastime for most individuals, it can sometimes take a more harmful turn and become problem gambling. Problem gambling is a pattern of gambling behavior that disrupts a person’s life, causing financial, emotional, or social harm. It involves losing control over gambling and continuing despite negative consequences. People with problem gambling tend to experience anxiety, guilt, or relationship difficulties due to their gambling habits.

Study authors Anna Lewi and Céline Bonnaire wanted to explore how narcissism and perceived personal luck are associated with problem gambling in different types of gamblers. They note that previous studies found that strategic gamblers tend to show higher levels of narcissism than non-strategic gamblers. These studies also linked narcissism to problem gambling. The study authors hypothesized that narcissism and perceived personal luck would be associated with more pronounced problem gambling. Perceived personal luck is a person’s subjective belief about how fortunate or lucky they are in life or in chance-related situations.

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Study participants were 177 active gamblers from France. To participate in the study, they needed to have gambled at least once a week in the last 12 months or spent at least 500 EUR on gambling in the past year. The study authors recruited them online via advertisements on gambling forums and social media, but also offline at a casino near Paris. Participants’ average age was 34 years. 72% were men.

Participants completed assessments of gambling habits, problem gambling (using the Problem Gambling Severity Index), narcissism (the Narcissistic Personality Inventory), and Perceived Personal Luck (the Personal Luck Usage Scale).

Results showed that 50% of the group were strategic gamblers, 30% were mixed gamblers, and 20% were non-strategic gamblers. Mixed gamblers showed slightly higher levels of problem gambling than non-strategic and strategic gamblers. Strategic gamblers were almost exclusively men (91% men), while non-strategic and mixed gamblers were predominantly women (66% and 64% women, respectively). Around half of the strategic gamblers were married, while non-strategic and mixed gamblers were predominantly single (69% and 76% of singles, respectively).

Mixed gamblers tended to show slightly more pronounced narcissism than strategic gamblers. They also had higher levels of problem gambling compared to the other two categories. Narcissism was associated with problem gambling only among strategic gamblers. Perceived personal luck was associated with problem gambling only among mixed gamblers.

“Our study provides evidence that strategic problem gamblers exhibit higher levels of narcissism compared to non-problematic gamblers, which could be traced back to the positive social image of strategic gambling as a skill-based, fruitful activity. This suggests that interventions targeting strategic gamblers should address these positive perceptions of gambling**,” the** study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the psychological characteristics of gamblers. However, it should be noted that all measures used in the study were based on self-reports**,** leaving room for reporting bias to have affected the results.

The paper, “Narcissism, personal luck, problem gambling: comparing gambling types,” was authored by Anna Lewi and Céline Bonnaire.