The Psychology of Gambling: How Online Casinos Keep Players Engaged

Ever wonder how it is that you could hop on a betting site like Betway with the aim of placing a single bet and end up wagering for an hour? Modern casinos will have you tapping away at the screen while spinning the wheel of fortune.

But how do they do it? Well, in this article, we will be looking at how the big player betting sites keep you engaged when you arrive at their landing page. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into it.

Throwing in Rewards and Bonuses

Of course, this strategy would work since nobody can turn down a well-thought-out gift. Online casinos will reward you for just about anything, including signing up. Sites like Betway can give you gifts for signing in consistently.

For instance, if you regularly log in, you could receive 3 free spins on the Wheel of Fortune. What these rewards do is that they keep you engaged, and so you will continuously wager without risking anything but with the anticipation of getting something.

It gets even better if you are part of, say, a tiered gaming band like VIP. Then you receive custom perks.

The Illusion of Control

This tactic is pure genius. Online casinos have evolved, integrating features that give off the illusion of control. For instance, when playing a slots game, you’ll notice that there’s a button you tap to stop the reels. This gives you a sense of involvement, making you feel as though you can control the game’s outcome to some degree.

Additionally, they’ll give you several options, with the ultimate decision of what you’ll play being up to you. If you are confident in your blackjack prowess, you’ll opt for something like skill-based blackjack, while if you feel that your luck is with live games, then you have that alternative too.

The Sunk Cost Fallacy

No phrase could better encapsulate this than, “if you are going through hell, then there’s no point in stopping”. Most punters fall prey to chasing losses on a bad day and often end up blowing their bankrolls.

When a number of your bets take a certain left trajectory, then you will bet more in an attempt to recoup your loss. Psychology states that you’ll feel as though you have invested way too much to quit, and with that, the wheels on the bus keep spinning.

The Gambler’s Fallacy

Here’s one strategy that is all too obvious. Most punters wish to bear an advantage, and what is better than predicting the outcome? See how you think, just because red appeared four times when playing roulette, betting on black as the fifth would be the most likely outcome?

That pretty much sums up the gambler’s fallacy. While basing your decisions on past outcomes has certain perks, especially when sports betting, its effects are almost counterintuitive when playing other games.

Conclusion

Now you know why it, at times, gets so hard to detach yourself from the screen. Casinos use certain features like giving off the illusion of control to throwing in rewards, and even taking advantage of psychological tricks like the sunk cost fallacy.

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