This week's episode sees Dr Auer and his extraordinary sidekick Jon Bruford meet The Digital Wellness Center’s Richardson Amartey. We explore the significance of micro breaks in altering moods, and the role of competition in enhancing engagement through leaderboards, among much, much more.

Richardson Amartey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardson-amartey/

Addiction: An Hour With Auer is a weekly podcast where hosts Dr Michael Auer – he of the title – and Jon Bruford talk about addiction in all its forms. Not just gambling addiction, they discuss all forms of addiction with experts, academics and researchers from around the world.

Dr Auer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-auer-51a48a/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Podcast homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/addiction/

Media behemoth homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Other podcasts we do:

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/the-gambling-files/

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/dessert-island-discs/

We're back with another absolute blockbuster episode that you didn't even know you needed to hear! This time Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford are joined by Professor Paweł Atroszko of the University of Gdansk to discuss the concept of work addiction, its symptoms, assessment methods, and global prevalence.

Paweł highlights the significant impact of socioeconomic factors and cultural perceptions on work addiction, as well as the differences in prevalence across age groups. The discussion also touches on the comorbidities associated with work addiction and the misconceptions surrounding it. Atroszko emphasizes the need for further research to better understand this phenomenon and its implications for mental health.

Then we get into treatment options, psychological profiles of workaholics, and the interplay of genetics and environment in the development of workaholism. The discussion highlights the need for awareness of the consequences of workaholism in the workplace and the importance of recognizing burnout as a serious condition.

Choice quotes:

1. "The prevalence of work addiction is very high."
2. "The risk is highest among 25 to 34 year olds."
3. "Women have a higher risk of work addiction."
4. "There are two addictions like that."
5. "Workaholics Anonymous operate for decades now."
6. "Having fun is a skill that needs to be trained."

Paweł Atroszko on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paweł-atroszko/?locale=en_US

Addiction: An Hour With Auer is a weekly podcast where hosts Dr Michael Auer – he of the title – and Jon Bruford talk about addiction in all its forms. Not just gambling addiction, they discuss all forms of addiction with experts, academics and researchers from around the world.

Dr Auer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-auer-51a48a/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Podcast homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/addiction/

Media behemoth homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Other podcasts we do:

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/the-gambling-files/

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/dessert-island-discs/

Join Dr Michael Auer and Jon Bruford for a weekly discussion about addiction in all its forms.

In this episode, Kim Lund, CEO of Aftermath Interactive, discusses his journey in the gambling industry, the challenges of game design, and the importance of responsible gaming. He emphasises the need for intelligent analysis and critical questioning within the industry, particularly regarding addiction and regulation. The conversation explores the intersection of gambling and video games, the role of randomness, event frequency, and the impact of social casinos. Kim also shares insights on designing non-addictive games and the future of regulation in gambling.

Choice quotes:

1. "What is the use case for specific slots?"
2. "Can we build something around it?"
3. "Regulation is often miles behind technology"

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Kim Lund and Aftermath Interactive

02:37 Kim's Journey in the Gambling Industry

05:32 Game Design and Innovation in Gambling

08:14 The Challenges of Regulation in Gambling

11:01 Understanding Game Popularity and Addiction

14:08 The Role of Randomness in Gambling

16:50 Event Frequency and Player Engagement

19:42 The Importance of Game Design and Themes

22:55 Disguising Losses as Wins in Gambling

25:55 The Future of Game Design in Gambling

33:36 Understanding Social Casinos

36:38 The Impact of Social Casinos on Gambling Behavior

39:04 Designing Games for Sustainable Engagement

42:55 The Complexity of Game Design and Player Experience

45:09 The Dark Side of Free-to-Play Games

48:12 Defining Gambling and Its Regulations

54:44 The Role of Regulators in Player Protection

Kim Lund on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-lund-pro/

Addiction: An Hour With Auer is a weekly podcast where hosts Dr Michael Auer – he of the title – and Jon Bruford talk about addiction in all its forms. Not just gambling addiction, they discuss all forms of addiction with experts, academics and researchers from around the world.

Dr Auer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-auer-51a48a/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Podcast homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/addiction/

Media behemoth homepage: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Other podcasts we do:

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/the-gambling-files/

https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/dessert-island-discs/