How does the phrasing of house edge information affect gamblers’ perceptions and level of understanding? A Registered Report

The provision of information to consumers is a common input tackling various public health issues. By comparison the given on food and alcohol products, gambling products either not at all, or shown in low-prominence locations suboptimal format, e.g. ‘return-to-player’ ‘this game has an average percentage payout 90%’. Some previous research suggests that it would be advantageous communicate this via ‘house edge’ format instead: loss from product, keeps 10% all money bet average’. However, empirical work house edge only uses specific phrasing, there may better ways communicating information. present experimentally tested original phrasing against alternative also been proposed, ‘on programmed cost you your stake each bet’, while both phrasings were compared equivalent return-to-player (N = 3333 UK-based online gamblers). two dependent measures gamblers’ perceived chances winning measure participants’ correct understanding. Preregistered Stage 1 protocol: https://osf.io/5npy9 (date in-principle acceptance: 28/11/2022). resulted lowest winning, but had highest rate Compared information, lower higher rates understanding, winning. These results replicated prior advantages over showing properties for only. optimal communication risk can act as approach reducing gambling-related harm.