Levels of arousal in high- and low-frequency gamblers

High-(N = 22) and low-(N = 22) frequency gamblers were subjected to provocation with gambling or neutral stimuli prior to playing a poker machine. All Ss used a minimum of AS$3 of their own money and played a machine currently in use in local clubs with a maximum major payout of AS$100. HR and subjective measures of arousal were taken throughout. Neither provocation condition resulted in changes from baseline arousal in either group. Playing was associated with increases in arousal in both groups, but significantly greater arousal was shown by high-frequency players.