Psychology underpins everything we do in society, which is why advertising agencies hire experts to present their products in a way which captures the target audience. Similarly, even your local supermarket uses psychology by putting the fresh bread near the front of the store to draw you in, and ensuring staple items like milk are towards the back of the store so you’re exposed to as many products as possible on the way.
Understanding basic psychological facts can help you in your everyday life as well as when you play Ontario online casino games. Being aware of the psychology of gambling at online casinos can help you be more savvy and play as an informed, and responsible gamer.
So, let’s take a look at the Psychology behind online casinos, and why we love to have a little flutter on the internet.
Why Online Casinos Are Alluring
Convenience and Accessibility
Online casinos are incredibly convenient, even more so in the last 10 years thanks to advancements in mobile devices. Nowadays you can enjoy your favourite casino games 24/7 from your preferred device, including mobile ones, without any compatibility issues or additional downloads. Players can enjoy immersive games and live-streamed games for an authentic casino experience without ever needing to leave the house.
Variety of Games
Online casino sites can feature thousands of games in their lobbies because they are not tied down by floor space; meaning there's room for hundreds of roulette games, slots, blackjack tables, and so on. This limitless space and online setting keep production expenses low for developers (outside of live games), meaning they can experiment with niche variants and twists on traditional themes. This benefits the player because they have access to a massive variety of games to suit their unique style.
How Psychological Factors May Influence Gambling Behavior
The Role of Dopamine
Gambling induces pleasure and reward by releasing a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is the brain's 'happy' chemical and is released when we do something we enjoy or consider pleasurable, such as eating a sweet treat, playing games, or completing goals.
Because it feels so good, dopamine is a very addictive chemical that the brain actively seeks. In some, such as those with depression, ADHD, and other conditions, dopamine levels are lower, which can lead to ‘dopamine chasing’, where the person seeks a boost of dopamine through their activities such as shopping, eating, or playing games. The trouble with this, however, is that it takes more and more to achieve the same dopamine hit, which, in the case of online casinos, if the player isn’t wary can lead to excessive risk-taking.
Cognitive Biases
Every person has cognitive biases. These are subconscious assumptions that might mislead us. The brain takes a lot of energy to run and is always looking for shortcuts to streamline its processes. Biases are formed out of the collation of experiences and typically represent the average experience of said thing from the individual perspective. However, the brain is complex and constantly looking to draw connections between and see patterns in things even when there is none.
For example, say on your commute you get on the 8:00 am train and never have anyone sit next to you. This happens multiple times throughout the week, but on Friday you run late and catch the 8:20 train which is jam-packed and standing room only. The brain will try to draw parallels between your experience, leading to the cognitive bias that the 8:00 am train is quieter than the 8:20 am one, even though the latter has only been busy once.
In gambling, the most common cognitive bias that players fall foul of is known as the 'gambler's fallacy'. The gambler's fallacy can make you think a specific outcome is coming soon such as a win, because you've had a streak of losses. For example, you might say to yourself; “The roulette wheel has landed on black five times in a row, so red is due next,” however, as a game of chance there is no guarantee of any specific outcome. This can cause players to fall foul of irresponsible gambling habits such as changing losses as "a win has to be around the corner".
Near-Miss Effect
Gambling psychology also involves how the brain processes near-misses. If you almost win a jackpot or the roulette ball lands next to your number, your brain can interpret this near miss meaning the desired result is closer and/or their luck is starting to change. It is important to be aware of this mindset, so you can avoid falling foul of this, as you could end up chasing losses, overspending, or playing for longer than you intend.
Considering the Social Element
Community Engagement
Casino gaming in the real world is generally a social activity, which, until recent years, online casinos lacked. However, thanks to advancements in live streaming and the introduction of live-dealer games with built-in chat functions, online gaming now offers interactive features similar to those found in real-world casinos. Many people find it more enjoyable to exchange experiences, whether you win or lose, and chat features all online casino players to form more of a community as opposed to being isolated players.
Social Validation
With a social environment comes new positive and negative psychological factors to consider. Social validation refers to our need to not only fit in but be recognised for our achievements. Upon receiving a large win, most players want other players to know. This can lead to rivalry with players wanting to outdo one another. The presence of tournaments in online slot gameplay helps to keep this need for social validation within safe limits (as tournaments will provide x amount of spins per entry; for example), however, players should be aware of the psychological impact a social setting can add to online casino gameplay.
Frame Your Mindset Around Responsible Gambling Practices
Being aware of the psychology at play when gaming online is a useful tool that can be included in responsible gambling practices.
Setting Limits
While you might think limitations ruin the fun, psychologically, having total freedom is not satisfying in the long term. Think about when you were a kid saving up your pocket money for a toy. That limitation of your funds meant when you could finally break open your piggy bank, purchasing that toy became far more satisfying, and the toy itself holds a lot more meaning and value to you. Compare this with adult life, where most small wants can be purchased pretty much instantly; leading us to buy multiple items with little meaning and little assigned value.
The same is true for online casino gameplay, by setting yourself a budget and a time limit you’re not only being smart with your time and money but keeping the play experience special and exciting.
Recognizing Problematic Behavior
According to data supplied by iGaming Toronto, Ontario residents gambled $11.6 billion on casino-related games last year, compared to approximately $2 billion on sports, which highlights just how many of us love playing games at Ontario online casinos.
While legitimate casinos are increasingly more mindful of player welfare, and clear in their emphasis that all games are chance-based, these venues cannot control the personal psychological effect on players. As a player, sticking to responsible gambling practices (such as setting a budget and playtime), as well as being aware of the warning signs of problem gambling are vital. Spotting an issue early allows you to deal with it more easily than a compulsion or addiction which has become out of hand.
The Mayo Clinic highlights the signs of problematic gambling behaviour/early signs of addiction as:
- Preoccupation with gambling, such as planning gambling activities and how to ‘win/earn’ more money
- Gambling with the hope of achieving a rush
- Attempting to limit or quit gambling without success
- Becoming restless or angry when unable to gamble and/or play games even when they become stressful/unenjoyable
- Feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or melancholy
- Gambling further with the hope of recovering prior losses
- Lying to family or others about your gambling/hiding when you gamble
- Strained romantic, familial, social, and professional relationships
- Seeking financial support and/or borrow money to fund your gameplay
Legitimate online casinos help to keep players safe through their affiliation with recognised charities, initiatives and tools designed to help concerned players such as providing access to support services and responsible gaming tools.
Spin Genie's Conscious and Responsible Commitment to Responsible Gaming
Player Protection Measures
At SpinGenie our Ontario players can access a variety of practical tools such as SafeMate, which is found in the ‘Responsible Gaming’ section of your account. It lets you track how much you've spent, earned, lost, and gambled over the past six months and provides a rapid health check score. You can compare what you believe you spent to what you spent, and SafeMate offers you timely alerts with personalized safer play advice.
Educational Resources
At Spin Genie we also make sure players have access to plenty of third-party educational resources so you can learn more from multiple different sources for completely unbiased advice. Just some of the educational resources we work with are listed below:
- Ontario Gambling Addiction Helpline (+1 (877) 426-4258): A 24/7 behavioural health phone line.
- ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600): 24/7 support for mental health and addiction.
- Responsible Gambling Council (RGC): Offers resources and online support.
- GAMTALK: Provides chat rooms and forums for players to talk to other players about their concerns.
Play With Your Head Not Your Heart!
Playing online casino games can be tons of fun; after all thousands of returning players can’t be wrong! However, just like everything in life, online casino sites need to be used responsibly and in moderation. Being aware of the psychological aspects at play; from the role of dopamine to the gambler's fallacy, and early signs of addiction will help you to play in a safer and more considered way.
