Effects of prevention messages on gambling behaviors
Official title: Messages de prévention Sur Les Appareils de Loterie vidéo : Effets Sur Les Comportements et Les Cognitions [Prevention Messages for Electronic Gambling Machines: Effects on Behaviours and Cognitions]
Run by Laval University · NCT06341504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if pop-up messages about responsible gambling can change how regular electronic gaming machine players behave and feel while they gamble in a realistic setting.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Laval University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Québec) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 27, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 2025 |
| Study ends | February 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 1, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06341504 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals aged 18 and older who regularly play EGMs but are not classified as probable pathological gamblers.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients currently receiving treatment for problem gambling or those under self-exclusion from gambling venues may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the impact of prevention pop-up messages on the behaviors, cognitions, and emotions of regular electronic gaming machine (EGM) players. Participants, who are not classified as probable pathological gamblers, will complete questionnaires and then engage in a gambling session in a laboratory designed to mimic a typical bar environment with real EGMs. The study seeks to enhance ecological validity by allowing participants to gamble with their own money while assessing the effectiveness of responsible gambling measures. The research is conducted in French and focuses on understanding how these messages can influence gambling behavior in a realistic setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective prevention strategies that reduce harmful gambling behaviors among regular EGM players.
How similar studies have gone: While some studies have shown effectiveness of prevention messages, this approach aims to address limitations in previous research, making it a novel investigation.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * At least 18 years old (legal age to gamble in Quebec, Canada, where the study is conducted) * Functional literacy in french (study is conducted in french and requires reading and understanding simple texts) * Having played EGMs and least once every two weeks for the past 12 months Exclusion Criteria: * Classified as a probable pathological gambler (score ≥ 8 on the PGSI) * Currently receiving treatment for problem gambling * Currently under self-exclusion from gambling venues
Where it's running
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Centre québécois d'excellence pour la prévention et le traitement du jeu
Québec, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Benjamin Galipeau — Laval University
- Study coordinator: Cqeptj
- Email: recrutementJEUX@psy.ulaval.ca
- Phone: 1 866 677-5389
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.