For the first time, sixth-formers taking psychology A-level in Britain will be able to study gambling addictions and the psychological attractiveness of games such as slot machines, baccarat and other table games. Courses will be offered by the OCR exam board and they will start next September.

Pupils will study the irrational thinking that sometimes lies behind gambling addictions, including such ideas as “the machine likes me.” The new psychology syllabus is expected to be studied by more than 26,000 sixth-formers by 2010 and it contemplates the approval of the Gambling Act, which allows new casinos in the country.

Currently, about 33 million Britons take part in gambling activities and half the adult population gambles on a regular basis. Professor Mark Griffiths, of Nottingham Trent University, states in his research, to be studied by pupils, that addicted gamblers have a tendency to verbalize irrational thoughts like “I lost because I wasn’t concentrating”.

“Most people who gamble do so responsibly,” Malcom Bruce, director of the Responsibility in Gambling trust said. “For some, however, gambling can become an addictive behavior with devastating consequences. We need to know more about how and why gambling affects people in different ways. At the same time we need to educate people about the potential risks involved in gambling.”