Unravelling the psychology behind gambling has been one of the most thrilling and fruitful tasks that I have had as a psychologist. When we embed psychology in this popular activity, there is an endless pool of feelings, behaviors, as well as effects we can witness in different casino players. Just recently, I’ve decided to take a leap and start betting online myself, just to experience that adrenaline rush that everyone keeps talking about. I made sure that I picked the safest interac deposit online casino, knew how much I can afford to bet, and just jumped at the opportunity.
What was the result, you might ask? The result was an amazing thrill, anticipation for a big win, and a pursuit for those lucky symbols on a screen. Now that this is more affordable than ever thanks to online casinos and low deposit options, this is something everyone should experience. As someone who hasn’t gambled a lot in the past, I decided to go for a 5$ deposit casino to minimise my expenses and maximise my time spent gambling.
Gambling from a psychologist’s perspective
We’ve all witnessed how technology changed online gaming, making gambling accessible to everyone and at any time. During the pandemic when people were quarantined and the casinos as we knew them were temporarily closed, gamblers found their haven online.
It wasn’t just them, though. In the tough times when we had almost no social interactions, the days were dull and filled with stress and fear, gambling was one of the favorite pastimes of many people. They’d go online, start playing their favorite games for hours, and enjoyed the much-needed relaxation and happiness that comes with this.
As a result, online gambling is more popular than ever. People are realizing how beneficial it is to be able to gamble online without having to dress up, travel to the casino, become a member, all to start playing.
Online gambling in the world is as common as watching sports or movies. Most people do it for the fun of it which, from a psychological perspective, is the only way you should do gambling.
Yes, people keep talking about problem gambling, which is definitely one of my areas of expertise. But, when we account how small the percentage of problem gambling is these days, as well as how many options people are given to deal with this, I don’t justify people who say that gambling is bad, or gambling is an addiction.
This is not at all detailed – and not at all accurate, at least not for most players.
If the casino player simply keeps track of their budget and doesn’t see this as a main source of income, gambling comes with tremendous psychological perks. Not just that, but the number of croupier jobs and other positions in the casino industry grows. For some countries, gambling is one of the biggest sources of taxation income.
If done with care, gambling can be an amazing experience. Everyone who has set on those live tables or played those slots online know this feeling of anticipation, thrill that comes when we add our bet and start making our betting choices.
Recreational gambling can stimulate tons of happiness in humans, especially when they win. Even the small wins simulate happy feelings in people. Many find this form of entertainment as a great way to reduce stress. Not only will you feel happier when you win, but you’ll also be distracted from your stressful life.
Of course, I shouldn’t fail to mention those mental benefits that come with gambling. People need to make decisions when they gamble, so this sharpens the mind and gives them more focus. Furthermore, they need to be patient seeing how this is a game of chances, giving them a much-needed skill for life.
Players change when they gamble. They become more hopeful, enthusiastic, have clearer thoughts and a lot of discipline. There are hardly many other entertainment options that offer all of this.
As a psychologist, I cannot possibly justify saying that gambling is an addiction and a bad thing. There’s a myriad of factors that can put people at risk of problem gambling, such as age, mood disorders, available resources, and substance abuse. If the person takes caution and sees this only as a great means of entertainment, gambling can be an amazing perk and a great way to have some fun.
Helen Bradfield did her degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
