The Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies (CJT) of the Macau Polytechnic Institute (IPM) held a sharing session on “Gamblers’ Fatigue: The Evolving Trends of Gaming Behaviour among Gamblers” on its Taipa campus last week, presenting the latest research findings by a CJT research team headed by Prof. Zeng Zhonglu, the public tertiary education institution said in a statement on Thursday.

As a key research project jointly sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macau, the ongoing study seeks to reveal the evolving trends of gaming behaviour among Macau residents, casino dealers and mainland Chinese gamblers, the statement said.

The aim of the research project is to assist in the “formulation of a forward-looking strategy” for the local gaming industry, and “therefore in the promotion of the healthy and sustainable development of the industry,” the statement said.

The CJT research team has conducted an extensive survey of local residents, dealers, and gamblers from the Chinese mainland based on their gaming preferences derived from the “exposure theory” and “adaptation theory”, the statement said.

These groups being studied by the research project have been found to exhibit adaptability in their gaming behaviour, the statement noted.

According to the statement, when people first start to gamble, they tend to experience novelty and are particularly interested in gaming. However, their participation decreases gradually as the novelty and enthusiasm wears off over time. This is due to the combined efforts of the learning effect, awareness of the harm from gambling, and social safeguard measures, the statement pointed out.

As the gamblers’ excitement and novelty drops, “they will obtain a more objective view and understanding of gambling with a higher sensibility in their gambling behaviour,” the statement said.

“In view of the adaptation of gaming behaviour and Macau’s high dependence on the gaming industry, it would be a wise move to look forward, to explore new sources of taxation and to increase employment opportunities beyond the gaming industry.

“To sustain the attractiveness of gaming, the local gaming industry also needs to introduce more non-gaming elements and be committed to the continuous innovation in its recreation and gaming facilities,” the statement said.

The sharing session, which took place last Monday, was attended by around 100 people, including representatives from the Science and Technology Development Fund and the city’s six gaming operators – Wynn Resorts, Sands China, MGM, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) and SJM, as well as the centre’s academic staff and researchers.