The Psychology of Online Gambling: Why We Can't Stop Playing

Research conducted worldwide regarding online gamblers' psychology concludes that their addiction has four main reasons - comfort, monetary benefits, game variety, and the ability to remain anonymous. In many cases, even players who don't particularly enjoy online gambling find a way to bet some money through their computers.

The Special Advantages of Live Dealer Betting

Players who dislike online casinos because of their reduced realism and fear of pre-programmed outcomes tend to gravitate towards Live Dealer titles, which enable them to share a video link with an actual dealer. In a way, live games offer the best of both worlds - human interaction, certified provable fairness, and preserving anonymity, which many online bettors prefer.

Despite its growing popularity, the mass perception of online gambling is that it is an unhealthy habit; wagering without showing one's face solves that problem for many people. Live games also allow players to be in charge of the tone of the interaction with the Dealer. Naturally, it is much more convenient to sit at home, in the comfort of an armchair, for example, with whatever food or drink you want nearby, while still interacting with a Dealer and feeling protected and comfortable.

The Comforts of Playing Online

The experience of losing in an online game is significantly less embarrassing and nerve-wracking than being in the physical presence of other bettors after wasting a bet in a brick-and-mortar establishment. Playing through a computer screen also makes certain games easier, such as poker and blackjack, omitting the need for etiquette and maintaining a poker face, for example.

Less sociable bettors will immediately jump on the opportunity to experience an online game rather than go to the real place. Betting on sports, events, or entertainment of any kind can be much more efficient if done at home because the Internet provides an unlimited source of information regarding the participants in the event, and bettors can use it to make a choice when placing wagers.

The Trap of Competitiveness

The distinct advantages of Live Dealer titles, the games' ever-improving graphics and sound quality, and more comfortable banking options like e-cash systems contribute to bettors' desire to keep playing online. Another contributing factor to players' addiction is their desire to prove themselves to other players. A recent Harvard study indicated that men are more likely to develop damaging gambling behavior because of their natural abundance of aggression and competitiveness.

Playing poker or slots online, the two most popular options satiates that need and instinct in an effortless and accessible way. Psychological analysis over the years proves that the most competitive individuals will only cease their activity once they have proven themselves to be more successful than their peers, even if they incur some heavy financial losses along the way.