Gambling with video lottery terminals

Examines video lottery terminal (VLT) gambling, and identifies themes associated with different phases of the gambling experience. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 7 persons (aged 25-55 yrs) who had significant involvement with VLT gambling. Ss were asked questions concerning their life experiences before their involvement with VLT gambling, and their thoughts and feelings associated with the different phases of gambling. The authors found that the preinvolvement phase is characterized by lack of meaningful relationships, problematic relationships, and feelings of loss. Early involvement reflects attempts to "fill the void" and the casual innocence of initial VLT playing. The deepening involvement phase indicates themes of the language of relationship, e.g., focused engagement, emotional highs and lows, and the escape and competition offered by gambling. Ending involvement themes include the emotional difficulty of quitting and strategies used to break the habit. Implications of these results for models of addiction and for the treatment of gambling problems are outlined.