The Role of Light and Music in Gambling Behaviour: An Empirical Pilot Study Jenny Spenwyn & Doug J. K. Barrett & Mark D. Griffiths Received: 10 February 2009 / Accepted: 1 June 2009 / Published online: 11 June 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009 Abstract Empirical research examining the situational characteristics of gambling and their effect on gambling behaviour is limited but growing. This experimental pilot investigation reports the first ever empirical study into the combined effects of both music and light on gambling behaviour. While playing an online version of roulette, 56 participants took part in one of four experimental conditions (14 participants in each condition); (1) gambling with fast tempo music under normal (white) light, (2) gambling with fast tempo music under red light, (3) gambling with slow tempo music under normal (white) light, and (4) gambling with slow tempo music under red light. Risk (dollars spent) per spin and speed of bets were measured as indicators of gambling behaviour. Significant main effects were found for speed of bets in relation to musical tempo, but not light. No significant effects were found for risk per spin for either of the two independent variables. A significant interaction between light and music for speed of bets was shown. Planned comparisons revealed that fast tempo music under red light resulted in faster gambling. These findings are discussed along with the methodological limitations, and potential implications for various stakeholders including the gambling industry and practitioners. Keywords Gambling . Problem gambling . Music . Light . Colour . Situational characteristics Introduction Those working in the gambling studies field have long been interested in the factors that lead to the acquisition, development and maintenance of gambling. Aside from individual differences (Bagby et al. 2007) where the majority of research on gambling has focused, the combination of the situational characteristics of gambling environments, and the structural characteristics of the actual game being played have been highlighted as other critical Int J Ment Health Addiction (2010) 8:107–118 DOI 10.1007/s11469-009-9226-0 J. Spenwyn : D. J. K. Barrett : M. D. Griffiths Nottingham Trent University, Psychology Division, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham, UK M. D. Griffiths (*) Nottingham Trent University, International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Division, Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4BU, UK e-mail: mark.griffiths@ntu.ac.uk