When you talk about online gambling, a topic that comes into the discussion by default is the psychological aspect of it. How players act and how the different actions and interactions can have an effect on the gambler is an important topic to talk about.
Even if you’re playing at online casinos in Australia, you’ll face the same thing. So, how is the human psyche related to the online gambling experience? You can find more about that in this article.
How Online Gambling Draws Players In
So, what’s the big deal about online gambling? Why are gamblers so interested in it? And why did it get so popular over the last couple of years? If you thought it was about winning money from the casino games, you’re wrong. The answer lies in the ease of accessibility.
As it’s all online, it means that you can access it sitting in your home. With mobile gambling also developed, the same can be done from anywhere, for that matter. You can be on the way back from work or enjoying the beauty of nature sitting on a park bench. It’s possible to join in from anywhere as long as you have a stable internet connection.
There’s also no restriction regarding when you’re playing. Since it’s an online platform, it’s available 24/7.
Dopamine: Anticipating Excitement
If you want to get all technical and science, then you should know that gambling has ties to brain chemistry as well. When you sit down to gamble, neurotransmitters get released in your brain that help you make complex decisions. But the one that’s the main focus here is Dopamine.
This is the neurotransmitter that deals with pleasure and happiness. It’s also associated with excitement and euphoria. Researchers have conducted studies that show dopamine is released every time gamblers pull the levers on a slot machine. The same also happens with every spin of the roulette wheel.
It’s not just limited to these two games. In any casino game where anticipation and uncertainty are involved, the brain releases dopamine for it.
Loss Aversion and the Sunk Cost Fallacy
Almost all gamblers have two common tendencies. They all want to avoid losses and almost everyone gets drawn into the sink cost fallacy. It’s hardwired in almost every human being to want to avoid losses. And that feeling is the strongest when it comes to gambling.
While it is a survival response, This can sometimes lead players down the wrong path. The other one that’s associated with loss aversion is the sunk cost fallacy. If you don’t know what that is, it’s the act of following through on something when an investment has been made. In the case of online gambling, it’s a financial investment, like the first deposit.
To get the best experience, gamblers will need to identify these tendencies that they have or might be developing and mitigate them. These don’t do anyone any good, so it’s better to be rid of them altogether.
The Illusion of Control
The human psyche is always obsessed with control. People always want to be in control of all the outcomes to best benefit them. One of these is the gambler’s fallacy. It’s the idea that past events might have some hold over the future outcomes.
There are many gamblers out there who believe that a winning streak will keep on continuing. You’ll also find those who think that since there have been 5 losses in a row, the next one would be a win.
But in reality, that’s not the case at all. In fact, in gambling, everything is random. That’s the beauty of it. Gamblers need to completely accept the uncertainty of it all and rid themselves of any fallacies that they might hold.
Escapism through Gambling
Just like how video games act as an escape for many, online gambling is also the same. It’s essentially the same thing with the only difference being that these games are played with real money. And because it’s a coping mechanism, gamblers should take care to make sure this habit of theirs is healthy.
The Social Tapestry of Gambling
At present, gambling is no longer about flying solo. It’s about sharing a common space with thousands of other players located across the globe. It’s about interacting with others and sharing your experiences on the platform.
The advancements in technology and the integration of these platforms with social media sites have added a new dimension to gambling. Utilizing these has become a norm these days.
From Enjoyment to Excess: Navigating Addiction
However, not everything about the psychology of gambling is good. Given the unpredictability of it all, gambling can also develop into an addiction if it’s not kept in check. Although it is a dark side that no one wants to talk about, it should not be discarded so lightly.
For most players, gambling addiction is something that can develop easily. It’s important to recognize the signs and utilize the tools that software providers and operators provide to protect oneself.
By setting limits on your budget and time, you can control yourself to a great extent. This can also stop you from overspending and put a stop to any developing addiction in its tracks. And should a gambler ever be in need of professional help, there are resources like the Responsible Gambling Council to help them out.
Final Thoughts
Gambling is more than just the bright lights and numbers. The human psyche plays a crucial role in how it's perceived and the effect that it has on people. Understanding the different aspects of psychology related to gambling is necessary for every gambler to guarantee a safe and enjoyable experience.