Members of the public are welcome at a seminar entitled 'An Experiment on the Social Contagion of Gambling Behaviour', from 5.30pm-6.30pm on Thursday (November 24) at CQU Rockhampton (building 32/G.18).

The presentation by Dr Matthew Rockloff will define problem gambling, identify characteristics of those who suffer these problems and describe risk factors for development of the disorder.

The presentation will also explain how and why the wins of other bettors cause people to play longer and lose more money.

"Understanding the root cause of problem gambling requires an answer to the question: what causes people to lose control of their behaviour," Dr Rockloff said.

"This seminar reviews recent research which suggests that gambling on poker machines may be strongly influenced by the wins of other bettors.".

Before his arrival at Central Queensland University, Dr Rockloff served as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Nevada's Centre for Applied Research, where he conducted surveys for America's Centres for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health.