Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Gambling cognition
  • Cultural beliefs & superstitions
  • Erroneous gambling-related beliefs
  • The provision of harm minimisation in CALD communities
  • Cultural competence in working with CALD clients

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Keis Ohtsuka

Keis is a Senior Lecturer in psychology at Victoria University, and a researcher at the Institute for Health and Sport, one of the University's two flagship research institutes. He is also a registered psychologist with expertise in gambling cognition.

His research interests are in the area of gambling behaviour and cognition. These include culture and gambling, the role of erroneous gambling-related beliefs and superstition in risk-taking, and the understanding of luck, chance and winning probabilities.

Keis is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the Victorian State Representative member (2019-2021) of the National Association for Gambling Studies (NAGS), where he had previously served as NAGS Secretary from 2009 to 2012.

Keis is the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Keis is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health, the first peer-reviewed English language research journal with a focus on gambling in culturally-diverse communities. He has edited special issues on 'Gambling and Vulnerable Groups (2013)' and 'Gambling harms-Understanding and reducing disparities for certain populations (2017). He was also an Honorary Research Fellow (honorary adjunct appointment) at the China Center for Lottery Studies at Peking University from 2011 to 2013.

Keis received his BA and MA from Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, and a PhD (Educational Psychology) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining Victoria University, Keis was a postgraduate research fellow at the University of Western Australia.

Keis has published over 30 refereed journal articles and book chapters. He supervised five PhD, one Doctor of Business Administration, two Master of Applied Psychology, and 41 honours/graduate diploma students.

Qualifications

  • PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, 1990
  • MA, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
  • BA, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

Key publications

Year Citation
2013 Ibrahim, R., & Ohtsuka, K. (130101). Worker wellbeing in Malaysia: Prediction of wellbeing from psychosocial work environment, organizational justice and work family conflict (pp. 182-189). International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology.

Year Citation
2023 Perri, F., Miah, S. J., Zanon, S., & Ohtsuka, K. (230601). The Economic Viability of an In-home Monitoring System in the Context of an Aged Care Setting. Journal of Health Management, 25(2), (308-316).

doi: 10.1177/09720634231177342

2023 Alqasir, A., & Ohtsuka, K. (230101). The Impact of Religio-Cultural Beliefs and Superstitions in Shaping the Understanding of Mental Disorders and Mental Health Treatment among Arab Muslims. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health,

doi: 10.1080/19349637.2023.2224778

2022 Potoczny, C., Gill, P. R., Ohtsuka, K., & Scarfo, J. (220101). Mindfulness and impulsive urgency are related but not interacting predictors of disordered gambling. Journal of Gambling Issues, 50 (132-144).

doi: 10.4309/PYDQ5415

2020 Ejova, A., & Ohtsuka, K. (200402). Erroneous gambling-related beliefs emerge from broader beliefs during problem-solving: a critical review and classification scheme. Thinking and Reasoning, 26(2), (159-187).

doi: 10.1080/13546783.2019.1590233

2017 Mazbouh-Moussa, R., & Ohtsuka, K. (170101). Cultural competence in working with the Arab Australian community: a conceptual review and the experience of the Arab Council Australia (ACA) gambling help counselling service.. Asian journal of gambling issues and public health, 7(1),

doi: 10.1186/s40405-017-0029-0

2016 Stephens, A. N., Trawley, S. L., & Ohtsuka, K. (161001). Venting anger in cyberspace: Self-entitlement versus self-preservation in #roadrage tweets. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 42 (400-410).

doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2016.01.006

2015 O'Mahony, B., & Ohtsuka, K. (151001). Responsible gambling: Sympathy, empathy or telepathy?. Journal of Business Research, 68(10), (2132-2139).

doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.03.012

2014 Stephens, A. N., & Ohtsuka, K. (140101). Cognitive biases in aggressive drivers: Does illusion of control drive us off the road?. Personality and Individual Differences, 68 (124-129).

doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2014.04.016

2013 Ohtsuka, K. (131201). Views on luck and winning, self-control, and gaming service expectations of culturally and linguistically diverse Australian poker machine gamblers. Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health, 3(1),

doi: 10.1186/2195-3007-3-9

Research funding for the past 5 years

Please note:

  • Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
  • Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
  • The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.

A Study of Self-Control Across Different CALD Communities: the Development of a Culturally Competent Harm Minimisation Framework for Promoting Responsible Gambling State Govt Research Contracts
From: Dept of Justice (VIC)
For period: 2007-2015
Not disclosed

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
2 PhD Integrated Principal supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD Integrated (2) Principal supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
4 PhD Principal supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (4) Principal supervisor

Other supervision of research students

Keis works with postgraduate research students and fellows. He has supervised the following students to completion: four PhD (as Principal Supervisor), one DBA (as co-supervisor), two Master of Applied Psychology (Community Psychology) and 38 honours students. He is currently supervising four Bachelor of Psychological Studies (honours) students.

Teaching activities & experience

Teaching

Keis teaches Organisational Psychology, Fieldwork and Research Methods.

Unit convenor

Key academic roles

Dates Role Department / Organisation
Feb 2002 - Present
Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Victoria University
Jul 2018 - Dec 2020
Member (Expert)
Victoria University Human Research Ethics Committee
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Feb 2002 -
Present
Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Victoria University
Jul 2018 -
Dec 2020
Member (Expert)
Victoria University Human Research Ethics Committee

Key industry, community & government roles

Dates Role Department/Organisation
Nov 2018 - Nov 2021
Victorian State Representative Member
National Association for Gambling Studies, Inc.
Dec 2019 - Dec 2020
Registered psychologist
Psychologist Board of Australia
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Nov 2018 - Nov 2021
Victorian State Representative Member
National Association for Gambling Studies, Inc.
Dec 2019 - Dec 2020
Registered psychologist
Psychologist Board of Australia

Keynote and invited speeches

Year Title/Description
2012

An exploratory investigation on validity and reliability of an Illusion of Control Beliefs Questionnaire.

Ohtsuka, K. (2012). An exploratory investigation on validity and reliability of an Illusion of Control Beliefs Questionnaire. Keynote speech presented at the 9th International Conference on Public Welfare and Gaming Issues, Beijing, China, 15 November 2012.

2010

Australian gaming workers' views on effective harm minimisation: a cultural competency approach.

Ohtsuka, K. (2010). Australian gaming workers' views on effective harm minimisation: a cultural competency approach. Keynote speech presented at the 7th International Conference on Public Welfare and Gaming Issues, Beijing, China, 10 November 2010.

Professional memberships

  • Member, Australian Psychological Society
  • Victorian State Representative Member 2019-2020; Secretary 2009-2012; Member since 1994, National Association for Gambling Studies

Media appearances

01st December 2016

Why people love to delude themselves with sports rituals and superstitions.

Ohtsuka, K. (2016, 1 December). Why people love to delude themselves with sports rituals and superstitions. The Conversation. ISSN: 2201-5639.

24th January 2018

7 weird superstitions and rituals of scientists. Biospace.

Terry, M. (2018, 24 January). 7 weird superstitions and rituals of scientists. Biospace. Quotation from Ohtsuka (2016, 1 December). Why people love to delude themselves with sports rituals and superstitions. The Conversation.

27th May 2017

State of Origin superstitions: How Blues fans psyche up for big event.

Hook, C. (2017, 27 May). State of Origin superstitions: How Blues fans psyche up for big event. The Daily Telegraph Australia, NSW, ACT edition. Cited to comment on sports superstitions. http://bit.ly/2sh7ZeM Hook, C. (2017, 27 May). State of Origin superstitions: How Blues fans psyche up for big event NT News. Cited to comment on sports superstitions. http://bit.ly/2s1zrke Hook, C. (2017, 27 May). Origin: Dig out the blue undies and get lucky. My express. Mr Hook wrote a syndicated article in which my comments on sports superstition were quoted.

04th March 2017

Unsafe at any Speed: Case against human drivers. The Atlantic, March 2017.

Pelini, J. (2017, March). Unsafe at any Speed: Case against human drivers. The Atlantic, March 2017. Cited Stephens & Ohtsuka (2014) in the 10 references that the authors used.

07th December 2016

The Chicago Cubs, the Doggies, and sports superstitions.

McCarthy, E. (Producer) & Savage, S. (Presenter). (2016, 7 December). The Chicago Cubs, the Doggies, and sports superstitions. Parallel lines, 3RRR FM, Melbourne, Australia. (Approx. 19 min.)

05th December 2016

What's the whole point in sports superstitions?

Smith, J. (Producer) & Chambers, R. (Presenter). (2016, 5 December). What's the whole point in sports superstitions? The Daily. 2SER, Sydney, Australia. (12m: 18s)

31st October 2016

Halloween, superstitions, and horse races.

McGrath, G. (Radio Presenter). (2016, 31 October). Mornings. ABC Radio Ballarat 109.7 FM. Halloween, superstitions, and horse races.

30th September 2016

The Project: Footy Superstitions

Cole, N. (Producer) & Schiller, J. (Interviewer). (2016, 30 September). Channel 10 The Project. Footy Superstitions (Videotaped interview). (1 m: 47s) Lead up to Western Bulldogs Grand Final against Sydney Swans in 2016, Channel 10 Project had a segment on footy superstition in which I was interviewed.

11th August 2016

AFL Front and Centre, Round 21: Akermanis calls for change. ESPN Australia & NZ.

Nash, J., & Happell, C. (2016, 11 August). AFL Front and Centre, Round 21: Akermanis calls for change. ESPN Australia & NZ. A freelance journalist, Mr Nash refers to sports superstitions regarding which AFL clubs have a chance to advance to the 2016 AFL grand final. I was interviewed to comment on sports and gambling superstitions.

05th May 2016

Bad drivers don’t think they’re bad: What Twitter tells us about road rage.

Gitlin, J.M. (2016, 5 May). Bad drivers don’t think they’re bad: What Twitter tells us about road rage. Ars Technica. This web article explains the findings in Stephens, A.N., & Ohtsuka, K. (2014). Cognitive biases in aggressive drivers: does illusion of control drive us off the road? Personality and Individual Differences, 68, 124-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.04.016

03rd November 2015

On luck and superstition.

Breakfast with Red Symons (2015, 3 November). 774 ABC Melbourne. On luck and superstition. On the morning of the 2015 Melbourne Cup, I was interviewed by a talkback radio show host, Red Symons on the topic. It was an interesting chat.

03rd November 2015

On luck and superstition.

Breakfast with Ross and John (2015, 3 November). 3AW 693 News Talk. On luck and superstition. On the morning of the 2015 Melbourne Cup, another interview with a talkback radio show host.

30th October 2015

A brief recorded interview on luck and gambling beliefs on ABC News Radio.

Bartholomew, G. (2015, 30 October). ABC News Radio. A brief recorded interview on luck and gambling beliefs.

04th March 2019

Cubs fans around the globe scramble to keep up with team's playoff run. The Chicago Tribune.

Crosby, R. (2015, October 21). Cubs fans around the globe scramble to keep up with team's playoff run. The Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune reports world-wide Cubs fever in 2015, the year in which Chicago Cubs advanced to the postseason games for the first time in many years.

24th January 2014

Casino’s maken Cambodjanen kapot’ [“Casinos make Cambodians broken.”]

Hoekstra, A. (2014, 18 January). ‘Casino’s maken Cambodjanen kapot’ [“Casinos make Cambodians broken.”] Trouw. Quoted on Asian gamblers’ beliefs. A freelance Dutch journalist Hoekstra interviewed me in relation to his report on casinos in Cambodia catering for Chinese workers.

05th July 2013

Friday talkback: Luck, what is it and why do we believe in it?

Shields, J. (Producer) & Buck, R. (Presenter). (2013, 5 July) Radio National Life Matters – Friday talkback: Luck, what is it and why do we believe in it? Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). As a guest. What is luck? is the theme of Friday talkback show.

11th September 2012

Insight - “Betting on Asia.”

Filali, F. (Producer) & Calixto, J. (Researcher). (2012, 11 September). Insight – “Betting on Asia.” Sydney: Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia. As an invited guest audience.

11th December 2012

Schedules fixed around calendar combination of lucky dozen.

Lund, M., & Cornish, L. (2012, 11 December). Schedules fixed around calendar combination of lucky dozen. Courier Mail. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/Uej5ZM Quoted on popular wedding dates with the palindromic or repeated numbers.

09th December 2012

Perfect wedding date is a numbers game.

Cornish, L. (2012, 9 December). Perfect wedding date is a numbers game. Sunday Herald Sun. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/121vXJn or https://bit.ly/VMLTZK Quoted on popular wedding dates with the palindromic or repeated numbers.

09th December 2012

Numbers add up to mass marriage on a perfect date.

Stack, B., & Cornish, L. (2012, 9 December). Numbers add up to mass marriage on a perfect date. The Sunday Telegraph and the Australian. Quoted on popular wedding dates with the palindromic or repeated numbers.

09th December 2012

Daya Magis 12-12-2012 bagi Warga Australia [Magical power for Australians 12-12-2012].

L. Sastra Wijaya (2012, 9 December). Daya Magis 12-12-2012 bagi Warga Australia [Magical power for Australians 12-12-2012]. Kompas.com. Quoted on popular wedding dates with the palindromic or repeated numbers.

09th December 2012

Makna 12-12-12 Bagi Orang Australia [The meaning of 12-12-12 for the Australians.]

Palmerah. (2012, 9 December). Makna 12-12-12 Bagi Orang Australia [The meaning of 12-12-12 for the Australians.] Warta Kota Tribun News.com. Quoted on popular wedding dates with the palindromic or repeated numbers.

10th December 2012

年月日同数 澳人扎堆12/12/12结婚 [Palindromic date when Australians gathered to marry.]

Xuan, M. (2012, 10 December). 年月日同数 澳人扎堆12/12/12结婚 [Palindromic date when Australians gathered to marry.] 澳洲新快网 [Australian New Express Daily] (www.xkb.com.au) Quoted on popular wedding dates with the palindromic or repeated numbers.

09th December 2012

澳人最佳婚礼日期大观 [Overview of the most popular wedding days for Australians.]

Qin, G. (2012, 9 December). 澳人最佳婚礼日期大观 [Overview of the most popular wedding days for Australians.] 大纪元 [The Epoch Times]. Quoted on popular wedding dates with the palindromic or repeated numbers.

22nd November 2001

Radio interview on migration stress and gambling.

Jackson, P. (2001, 22 November). Radio interview on migration stress and gambling. SBS Radio, Sydney, Australia.