Qualitative analysis of the reflection of the mathematical dimension of gambling in gaming online content
Description
Mathematics is strongly connected to gambling through the mathematical models underlying any game of chance. Mathematics is reflected not only in games’ design/characteristics and their outcomes, but also in gamblers’ perception and knowledge of the mathematics-related facts of gambling – which influence their gambling behavior. The math-indispensability principle applies not only in problem-gambling research, but also in the gambling industry. The structural, informative, strategic, psychological, pathological, and ethical aspects of gambling have been identified to be grounded in the mathematics of games and gambling. In this theoretical framework, research is able to derive concrete norms and criteria to adequately reflect the mathematical dimension of gambling in the communication and texts associated with the gambling industry. These norms and criteria of adequacy will be further communicated to policy and decision makers in both governmental and private sectors, with the recommendation for implementation. Our study aims to evaluate qualitatively the reflection of the mathematical dimension of gambling in the content of gambling websites. This analysis is necessary in order to have an objective and concrete image of the actual state of this matter in the online industry and of the challenges that such research and application would face in the real world of gambling. A minimum number of 600 gambling websites will be reviewed annually for their content in that respect. A statistical analysis will record the presence of the mathematical dimension of gambling and its forms in the content of participating websites, and a qualitative research will analyze and assess the quality of the content with respect to that dimension..