A Time to Gamble: How Time Perspective Shapes Gambling Behavior and Risk

Session Title

Gambling Psychology: Risk, Time & Escalation

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Start Date

28-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

Time Perspective (TP)—the cognitive tendency to focus on the past, present, or future—has been increasingly recognized as a key psychological factor underlying gambling behavior. This paper synthesizes findings from a comprehensive review examining associations between TP dimensions (e.g., Past-Positive, Past-Negative, Present-Hedonistic, Present-Fatalistic, and Future) and gambling frequency, severity, motivations, and cognitions. Across many studies, present-oriented TPs consistently emerge as risk factors for impulsive gambling, chasing losses, and distorted beliefs about chance, while future-oriented TP functions as a protective factor linked to self-regulation and reduced gambling harm. This review further highlights methodological variability, including differences in TP measurement, gambling outcomes, and population characteristics, as well as underrepresentation of culturally diverse samples. Integrating TP theory with dual-process models of decision-making, the presentation illustrates how temporal bias influences reward sensitivity, delay discounting, and risk evaluation in gambling contexts. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed, emphasizing the potential utility of time-based cognitive reframing and future-oriented goal training. By consolidating fragmented findings, this presentation clarifies the role of temporal cognition in gambling behavior and identifies directions for theory-driven, culturally responsive research and policy development.

Author Bios

Lening A. Olivera-Figueroa, Psy.D., ABPP, is a board-certified, clinical psychologist, licensed in California & Puerto Rico (PR), who completed his doctorate in clinical psychology at Ponce Health Sciences University in PR, his pre-doctoral fellowship at the NIH, and his 5 post-doctoral fellowships at McGill University, University of Montreal, Yale University, the Connecticut Veteran Affairs (VA) Hospital & the Syracuse VA. Dr. Olivera has served as faculty at Yale, Rutgers University & now MSU.

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May 28th, 12:00 AM

A Time to Gamble: How Time Perspective Shapes Gambling Behavior and Risk

Time Perspective (TP)—the cognitive tendency to focus on the past, present, or future—has been increasingly recognized as a key psychological factor underlying gambling behavior. This paper synthesizes findings from a comprehensive review examining associations between TP dimensions (e.g., Past-Positive, Past-Negative, Present-Hedonistic, Present-Fatalistic, and Future) and gambling frequency, severity, motivations, and cognitions. Across many studies, present-oriented TPs consistently emerge as risk factors for impulsive gambling, chasing losses, and distorted beliefs about chance, while future-oriented TP functions as a protective factor linked to self-regulation and reduced gambling harm. This review further highlights methodological variability, including differences in TP measurement, gambling outcomes, and population characteristics, as well as underrepresentation of culturally diverse samples. Integrating TP theory with dual-process models of decision-making, the presentation illustrates how temporal bias influences reward sensitivity, delay discounting, and risk evaluation in gambling contexts. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed, emphasizing the potential utility of time-based cognitive reframing and future-oriented goal training. By consolidating fragmented findings, this presentation clarifies the role of temporal cognition in gambling behavior and identifies directions for theory-driven, culturally responsive research and policy development.