Is “Positive Play” really positive?
“Positive play” in gambling focuses on how people can engage responsibly, rather than simply avoiding harm. According to research published in Frontiers in Psychology, positive play captures proactive behaviors such as controlling spending, setting limits, and planning ahead (factors not measured by traditional tools like the Problem Gambling Severity Index). For designers and finance professionals, this concept highlights how systems and interfaces can be structured to guide better decisions and reduce risk, helping people stay in control of their money and habits.
“This study confirms the value of using the PPS as a useful and brief psychometric measure to capture responsible gambling behaviours. The behavioural subscales in particular appear to moderate the relationship between problem gambling behaviours and reports of gambling harm. Positive play does not appear to be merely the antithesis of problem gambling measures, but appears to provide an independent contribution to the explanation of gambling-related harm, principally because it captures key elements such as control and pre-commitment which are not constructs which are directly measured (as a deficit) in widely used measures such as the PGSI. It is not clear, however, whether attitudes towards responsibility necessarily translate into responsible behaviour. Many problem gamblers appear to know what they should be doing to make their gambling safer, but there is a disjuncture between what they believe in relation to ‘responsible behaviour’ and what they do in practice.” (Delfabbro, P., King, D. L., & Georgiou, N., 2020).
“It appears that problem gamblers do not necessarily lack the knowledge about the potential harms associated with their behaviour. Instead, they have difficulties in modifying their behaviour. This supports the view that harm minimisation measures designed to moderate gambling behaviour (e.g. limits on the ability to spend money very quickly) and practical skills training may be more useful than merely providing information.” (Delfabbro, P., King, D. L., & Georgiou, N., 2020).
“An emerging literature relating to “safe gambling practices” (Hing, Browne, Russell, & Rockloff, 2019) is potential instructive in this regard and includes measures such as: avoiding credit; not gambling when depressed or anxious; and, using appropriate money management strategies.”(Delfabbro, P., King, D. L., & Georgiou, N., 2020).
“Positive play may be a useful way to identify individuals who could be identified as having strengths that would make them more inclined to adopt a pattern of gambling involvement that it less likely to incur harm.” (Delfabbro, P., King, D. L., & Georgiou, N., 2020).
Research suggests positive play isn’t just the opposite of problem gambling, it adds its own insight. Many people know the safe way to gamble but still struggle to act on it, which shows that simply giving information isn’t enough. Practical tools like spending limits, reminders, or skill-based strategies work better. From a design perspective, this highlights the role of creating experiences and systems that make responsible behaviors easier to follow. By understanding how people naturally manage (or fail to manage) their gambling, designers and financial planners can build environments that encourage smarter, safer choices relying on the system and not just willpower alone.
References.
Delfabbro, P., King, D. L., & Georgiou, N. (2020). Positive play and its relationship with gambling harms and benefits. Journal of behavioral addictions, 9(2), 363–370. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2020.00041
Eyestetix Studio. (2024). A Clock, Dice, and Casino Chips On a Table. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/a-clock-dice-and-casino-chips-on-a-table-sv0pf8O6MsI
This reflection draws on the article Hing, Browne, Russell, & Rockloff: Positive Play and Responsible Gambling Behaviours (Frontiers in Psychology, 2022) for factual context and research findings (~40%). My contributions include interpretation, analysis, and personal reflections connecting the research to design, finance, and my capstone project (~40%). AI assisted in condensing, structuring, and editing the content into a cohesive, human-focused introduction and review (~20%). All interpretations remain the responsibility of the author.
