New Technologies and Gambling Perception Among Italian Managers: A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Organizational Psychology
• Digital Criminology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Technological advancements have digitized gambling, integrating it into personal and professional spheres.
• Understanding managerial perceptions of digital gambling is crucial for developing effective workplace interventions.
• Existing research often overlooks the nuanced views managers hold on technology-facilitated gambling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Italian managers' perceptions of digital gambling, its associated risks, and the role of personal devices in the workplace.
• To identify key themes in managers' understanding of gambling prevalence, motivations, and risks.
• To inform the development of contextually relevant preventive strategies for gambling in organizational settings.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 33 Italian managers.
• Inductive thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and themes in the data.
• Exploration of perceptions related to gambling, risk factors, and personal device usage.

Main Results:

• Managers perceive differences in gambling prevalence and motivations, influenced by digitalization.
• Identified risks include social/family issues, financial strain, and illegality, alongside protective factors like education.
• Managers noted blurred work-life boundaries due to personal devices, with mixed views on connectivity benefits and drawbacks.

Conclusions:

• Managerial perceptions of digital gambling are a mix of awareness and misconceptions, significantly influencing organizational responses.
• Preventive strategies must align with actual workplace perceptions for better acceptance and sustainability.
• Further research is needed to address the specific challenges posed by technology-enabled gambling in diverse organizational contexts.