The topic of video games and their effect on mental health has been important since the moment these games came into existence. Over the course of many years, many concerns were raised and addressed, and yet the topic is far from being concluded. In fact, the recent rise in the popularity of casino games brings up new questions about the effects that online gaming has on players and the ethics of the industry as a whole.
Today, we collaborated with Kevin Rendel of Casinova, to talk about the impact casino games have on mental health and the ways to address any issues that arise because of them.
What makes casino games so appealing?
Video games combine player agency with the spectacle enabled by the latest technology, which results in an entirely unique sort of experience with no alternatives that could easily replace it. Table games can be fun, but they don’t really provide the same level of visual variety and special effects, and other forms of media like movies can be visually appealing but offer no control over the process. To put it simply, players are often drawn towards games because they can scratch an itch that other activities cannot.
There are some positive aspects of games. First of all, they can help players relieve stress and escape from their mundane problems for a bit, providing some energy to deal with them later. Some games may include strategic elements or require memorization, which can be seen as a positive cognitive exercise. Finally, games can lead to social interactions, which can be rewarding on their own and can even lead to building meaningful connections.
This is where we have to note that casino games are their own unique thing. While some aspects that we’ve mentioned in the previous paragraph still stand true (like some strategic aspects of poker or social interactions associated with table games), most casino games only really provide escape at most.
Online casino games are usually based entirely on chance and focus on delivering single-player experience, often with little to no storytelling, interesting interactions, or even gameplay mechanics outside of simply pushing a button and waiting for an outcome.
So, why do so many people still like these games?
First of all, for some reason, we love variable rewards and unexpected outcomes. The mystery and randomness feel exciting and a lot of people find the idea of winning something by getting a lucky combination extremely rewarding. This promise won’t be true for the absolute majority of players, yet there is a part of our brain that always tells us that we can be that one jackpot winner — all it takes is just a few more spins.
Casino owners do their best to capitalize on that irrational feeling — the games are specifically designed to keep players as excited as possible at all times, with bright visuals, nice sounds, and multiple mechanics that ensure that losses don’t feel as bad, while even the tiniest wins are applauded. As a result, players feel rewarded no matter the outcome — but it gets even more intricate.
Lots of players experience the illusion of control, and casinos profit from it as well. While gamblers cannot influence the outcomes of the spins, they still feel like they have some agency over them. This is where we have to note that, according to Statista, online slots had the highest share of problem gamblers in the United States, with 67% of respondents displaying two or more behavioral traits associated with it.
In fact, it is a known practice for slot machines to often produce “near misses” so that players will feel like they are close to victory, and if they put in some extra cash, they can finally get there. This leads to extra spending and prolonged gameplay sessions that can be enthralling and feel fun no matter what they result in.
Finally, there’s also a sunk cost fallacy that forces players to invest more money as they lose more because admitting the losses and settling on them is psychologically difficult. As you can see, slot game providers are benefitting from multiple ways the player’s perception tricks them. Benefiting from human misconceptions and wrong expectations might be okay for stage performers showing various card tricks, but when it comes to the gambling industry, the consequences can be severe.
What are the negative effects of casino games?
As you can imagine, the type of addictive gameplay casino games provide can cause multiple problems for the players. Casino games aren’t unique in that aspect, but they are definitely more dangerous than most other games because gamblers have to spend significant sums of money to keep playing.
Kevin Rendel notes that Casinova promotes safe gambling practices and highlights multiple potential problems gamblers may experience with their relationships, finances, legal compliance, and mental health. This aligns with the World Health Organization’s position on the matter. Notably, according to the WHO, people who gamble at harmful levels generate around 60% of losses, meaning that a large portion of casino profits comes at the cost of players’ well-being.
Financial losses caused by irresponsible gambling can lead to increased stress and problems in personal life, and also cause all sorts of other negative consequences. Gambling is also known to result in a negative loop: bad mood caused by it makes players seek escape, which casino games provide, even if only temporarily.
Escaping this loop proves difficult for many people, and the more desperate the situation becomes, the harder it gets, especially due to the increased feelings of shame and guilt that make it hard to admit the problem.
Many players hope that they can cover their losses by finally winning a huge sum of money, but that is just not how casinos operate — the house always wins by design. Even if a player would be lucky enough to actually miraculously cover their expenses in a surprising turn of events, they would still be addicted to the high that casino games are known to provide and might eventually lose all of it once again.
Since casino games are so addictive by design and risky by nature, they pose a significant threat to players who already have a history of addiction or mental health issues. Sadly, the more vulnerable players are, the more they are likely to suffer from the negative impact of casino gaming.
What makes matters worse is the fact that casino games are more available than ever before. Modern gamers can easily access them on a 24/7 basis using their mobile apps, meaning that no matter where they go, they are always enticed to spin just a few more reels. While this might not cause harm to players who treat these games responsibly, any deviation from that can be unsafe.
Responsible gaming and its importance
This brings us to the importance of responsible gaming practices. Lots of governments around the world require casino owners to ensure that their establishments and websites follow various regulations that alleviate the potential risks of gambling and limit the player’s ability to cause harm to their own financial and mental condition.
These regulations differ, however, and most of them only apply to casinos that operate within certain jurisdictions. Online casino owners obviously do their best to get licensed in areas with more lenient requirements, since their audience is global anyway. However, even these casinos often provide at least some commonly accepted forms of player protection, which include self-exclusion, deposit limits, and session reminders.
Lots of casinos also promote awareness of responsible gambling habits, at least to some extent. You can find necessary links that contain helpful information on their websites, even though a lot of times these will be buried deep under tons of game offers and flashy gambling animations. This information includes hotlines, support groups, and articles on the topic, which might not be greatly effective, but it is still something that can help players assess their condition and prevent losing control over their habits.
Conclusion
While casino games can be a fun and pleasurable activity, they hold several significant risks and need to be approached with caution. Players need to always remember that these games are specifically designed to be as appealing and addictive as possible, and remember to always keep their spending in check.
Balance, self-awareness, and use of available resources help with establishing a healthy relationship with casino games. If you as a player feel that your habit has become problematic, make sure to find necessary support and regain control.
