Sharen Nisbet

Modelling consumer intention to use gambling technologies: an innovative approach

This paper reports the results of a study that sought to analyse the attributes of gambling technologies that affect consumer intention to use card-based gambling in Australia. A 23-item questionnaire was developed from an analysis of interviews with 20 key industry stakeholders, adapted to a modified version of existing technology acceptance model (TAM) questions (Davis 1989, Wang et al. 2003), then administered to 134 patrons of two gambling venues. Data reduction yielded three constructs consistent with the TAM: ‘ease-of-use’, ‘perceived usefulness’ and ‘intention to use’ the technology. Significant correlation was found in each component, and each set of component items exhibited high internal reliability. Further analysis using structural equation modelling revealed that ‘usefulness’ is a significant predictor of ‘intention to use’ card-based gambling systems, and that ‘ease-of-use’ also has a positive effect on intention. Replication of these results, complemented by actual usage data, will enhance understanding of the benefits.

Sport events and integrated destination development

Sport events are recognised as contributing to the development of tourism destinations, both through direct visitation and through destination image building, and yet they are not well understood in terms of their contribution to the development of destination networks. The development of the ‘tourism destination framework’ by Haugland, Ness, Grønseth, and Aarstad [2011. Development of tourism destinations: An integrated multilevel perspective. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(1), 268–290.] is supported by five propositions which are assessed here, in the light of the evidence collected from Sail Port Stephens and other published studies. Overall, the results support the propositions, and further suggest that sport events can become a mechanism through which destinations can develop products and services that utilise resources and competencies across several firms to contribute to destination development.

The Influence of Pre-Commitment and Associated Player-Card Technologies on Decision Making: Design, Research and Implementation Issues

This paper describes player knowledge, attitudes and practices associated with the use of cashless and card based gambling technologies in Australia and considers their influence on player decision making. The experience of gaming venues who have implemented these technologies is similarly considered. Factors that could maximise adoption success and deliver positive outcomes for these venues and their customers are explored. The evidence that unfolded during the two-stage qualitative study of these issues is presented with an emphasis on the implications of the findings for policy makers. Where appropriate, factors that might encourage partial and full use of these systems among players are highlighted. Finally, design, research and implementation issues related to mandatory and voluntary to use cashless and card based gambling schemes are discussed.

How customers behave on the gaming floor: revelations from employees.

This article explores the dimensions of customer use of cashless cards on the gaming floor from the perspective of employees of two Australian gaming venues to provide explanations for variations in usage behavior. Some tentative theories regarding patterns in the data vis a vis these behaviors are proposed, grouped according to whether customers are putting money into or taking money out of the machines. The results indicate that segmenting customers as either light or heavy users rather than along socio‐demographic lines would be useful to the design of adoption campaign messages. Further, for customers who have adopted the card, non use of the responsible gambling attributes and the associated lack of staff awareness of these features could be reversed through a simple communication and training program.