Too Aroused to Sleep: The Role of Tilt in Playing Online Poker and First-Person Shooter Games

The 24/7 accessibility to online poker (OP) and online first-person shooter (FPS) games increases the risk of developing problematic behaviors. Previous studies have shown mixed results regarding the impact of OP and FPS severity on sleep problems, and more specifically on insomnia symptoms. However, the intense emotions and arousal experienced during these games, such as tilt and pre-sleep arousal, have not been thoroughly investigated yet. The objectives were to test whether (1) tilt's severity mediates the relationship between problem gambling and insomnia symptoms in OP players; (2) tilt's severity mediates the relationship between internet gaming disorder (IGD) and insomnia symptoms in FPS players; (3) pre-sleep arousal's severity mediates the relationship between tilt and insomnia symptoms in OP players and (4) in FPS players. Participants were included in the study if they were aged 18-26, lived in the province of Quebec and were regular players. Self-reported data on insomnia-related symptoms, tilt, and playing severity of 62 OP (93.5% male) and 67 FPS players (79.1% male) were collected. Tilt mediates the relationship between problem gambling and insomnia problems. Pre-sleep arousal is a mediator between tilt and insomnia symptoms in OP players, as well as in FPS players. Tilt does not mediate the relationship between the severity of IGD and insomnia symptoms. The findings shed light on the impacts of the severity of problem gambling and IGD on tilt and insomnia symptoms in both OP and FPS players. Future research could investigate how therapies that emphasize emotional regulation and sleep hygiene might reduce problem gambling or gaming and tilt behaviors.