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Psychology of Online Casinos vs Land Based, Analysis of 41 Studies Conducted by Leanbackplayer.com


Leanbackplayer has released a summary of new findings on the psychology of gambling and how it affects the brain: https://www.leanbackplayer.com/psychology-casino-games/
The research looked at 41 studies from 17 different journals over the past 5 years and compiled findings from each.
The research was performed by Will Titterington and Quincy Miller, veteran gaming industry professionals.
The Research Findings
Finding #1
Online casinos have built-in advantages that their brick-and-mortar counterparts struggle to match. Online casinos are more convenient, require less overhead to operate, and allow players to gamble in complete anonymity — important advantages that regular casinos will never be able to replicate.
“In online live casino gaming, the anonymity of the internet allows players to privately engage in gambling without the fear of stigma,” said Dr. Mark Griffiths, a Distinguished Professor of Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University.
Finding #2
The biggest advantage brick-and-mortar casinos have is consumer trust. Despite advances in cybersecurity, many gamblers simply don’t trust online casinos not to rig the games against them. As long as brick-and-mortar casinos have the edge in trust, they’ll likely enjoy a large slice of the gaming market.
Finding #3
Online casinos may be more dangerous for problem gamblers. The ability to gamble at any time, day or night, without any of the traditional societal safeguards that keep problem gamblers in check can be a recipe for disaster.
“Fundamentally, increased accessibility of gambling activities enables the individual to rationalize involvement in the risk-behavior by removing previously restrictive barriers such as time constraints emanating from occupational and social commitments,” Griffiths said.
Finding #4
Gambling utilizes the power of uncertainty to literally reprogram the brain. Gambling changes how the brain releases dopamine, the so-called “feel-good neurotransmitter.” Over time, the brain adjusts to higher and higher doses, reducing its effectiveness, so that gamblers have to play longer and bet more to get the same effect.
According to one study, the release of dopamine reinforces maladaptive gambling, creating a self-perpetuating destructive behavior.
Finding #5
Casinos — both online and brick-and-mortar — are using new technology to exploit players’ brains. Advances in gaming technology — most notably “losses disguised as wins” — are changing how long players gamble and how much they wager, often with catastrophic results.
Finding #6
The root of gambling addiction may lie in the supplementary eye field (SEF), a little-understood region of the brain designed to control the movement of the eyes. People with dopamine deficiencies also experience abnormalities in the SEF, making them more susceptible to addiction.
Researchers investigating monkeys found that increased neuron activity in this region corresponded to increased risk-taking behavior, and a lack of dopamine increased neuron activity, creating a vicious loop.
Finding #7
Problem gamblers fit a troubling profile. Addiction is more likely to affect men, minorities, and those with preexisting health conditions, and the rise of mobile gaming is making it easier for these people to fall into self-destructive patterns.
Prior to internet gambling, many of these vulnerable individuals weren’t affected so long as they didn’t live near a casino; however, the rise of mobile gaming has led to a corresponding rise in problem gambling among these demographics.
Finding #8
The solution to problem gambling may lie in setting limits. If casinos would enforce — and gamblers would adhere to — limits on how much can be wagered or how long sessions can last, problem gambling could be severely curbed.
About Leanbackplayer.com
Leanbackplayer covers global igaming trends, regulations, and news. The Leanbackplayer research team also conducts original surveys and reports that can be found on https://www.leanbackplayer.com/category/news/.

Leading games developer, Incentive Games is proud to announce the official launch of ‘Prize Matcher’ a daily free-to-play game for bet365 in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This expansion marks a significant milestone in bet365’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative, engaging gaming experiences for players in regulated U.S. markets.
Prize Matcher builds on the success of previous free-to-play games, offering an exclusive experience tailored for bet365’s audience.
Now available to players in New Jersey and Pennsylvania via the Casino and Sports products, Prize Matcher provides an exciting opportunity to win prizes by collecting symbols throughout the week. Each day, players can reveal three tiles, collect symbols, and claim rewards. Every Monday at 5pm local time, the game’s grid resets, delivering fresh opportunities and surprises.
A particularly exciting feature is the ‘Diamond’ symbol. Players who uncover this rare gem will receive an instant prize (no symbol matching required).
Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games, commented, “Expanding Prize Matcher into New Jersey and Pennsylvania is a major milestone for Incentive Games and a testament to our strong partnership with bet365. We take pride in creating innovative, free-to-play experiences that enhance player engagement. This launch reinforces our commitment to delivering cutting-edge products that drive customer retention for our clients.”
A bet365 spokesperson added, “Once again, our partners at Incentive Games continue to raise the standard for innovation with the launch of Prize Matcher. We’re confident that our customers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania will enjoy a fantastic free-to-play gaming experience!”
Players in New Jersey and Pennsylvania can access the game via the following websites:
- NJ: casino.nj.bet365.com/promotions/us/prize-matcher
- PA: casino.pa.bet365.com/promotions/us/prize-matcher
New and eligible customers only. Your Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable. Any returns from Bonus Bets wagers will be added to your Withdrawable Balance, but the Bonus Bets wager is excluded from any returns. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Max. prize, time limits, bet/game restrictions, and T&Cs apply.
You must be over 21 to play. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Significant Offer Terms and Conditions
· Promotion runs from 05:00 PM local time on April 7, 2025 until 04:59 PM local time on July 28, 2025. The promotion is divided into weekly periods. Each weekly promotional period will begin at 05:00 PM local time on Monday and end at 04:59 PM local time the following Monday. Once the weekly promotional period has ended the grid will reset.
· You can reveal up to three tiles on your grid each day by clicking them. Unused reveals will not carry over to the following day. You are not guaranteed to win a prize in any promotional period. Your prizes will be credited automatically. In the event that your prize is not credited automatically, it may take up to 72 hours from the end of the corresponding promotional period for your prize to be credited.
· Your Bonus Bets will expire 7 days after they are added to your Bonus Bets balance. If additional Bonus Bets are added to your Bonus Bets balance within this 7 day period, the total Bonus Bets balance will expire 7 days after the last addition.
· To claim your Bonus Bets, go to the Account menu on Sports, choose My Offers and click Claim. You will have seven days to claim.
· Cash prizes must be accepted within 7 days of crediting and will be added to your withdrawable balance. Any unaccepted cash prizes will be removed after 7 days.
· You can claim your Spins by logging in to your Casino account and clicking Accept on the pop-up. Alternatively, navigate to Casino in the Sports app and click Accept on the pop-up. Spins must be accepted within 7 days. Once accepted, you will have 7 days to use your Spins. Spins can be used on Book of Claddagh, Book of Sekhmet Deluxe and Chamber of Alchemy and are valued at $0.10. Any unused Spins will removed 7 days after claiming.
· $10 Casino Bonuses must be accepted within 7 days. Once accepted, you will need to wager the bonus once on eligible games before you can withdraw your bonus funds and any winnings from them. The bonus can only be used on the following games: Sticky Stacked Fire 7s, Cash Eruption and Lightning Blaze. If the wagering requirement has not been met within 7 days of acceptance of the bonus, any funds held in the Bonus Funds balance will be removed. A bet on a single game round cannot exceed $1.
· All prizes won from the New Jersey Prize Matcher must be used when you are located in the state of New Jersey.
· This offer is only available to new and eligible customers.
The post appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
New football tournament is part of iGB L!VE’s London iGaming Week
iGB L!VE will be underscoring its status as one of the industry’s most popular business, networking and social igaming events this year following confirmation that it has teamed up with the LatAm Media Group to stage the first London LMG Futbol Experience.
Taking place on Friday 4th July at the BallerZ Dome in Bluewater, the live-streamed 6-a-side tournament will be played on a state of the art 5G pitch with games officiated by fully qualified referees.
With free transportation provided to and from ExCeL London, a journey which takes less than 35 minutes, the day’s activities will run from 1pm – 10pm and comprise a host of networking opportunities and events including lunch and a prize giving cocktail reception as well as a post-match poker tournament.
Expanding on the day’s activities, Agustin Cikes COO and Jorge Gomez, CEO of LatAm Media Group said: “This will be the 14th LMG Futbol Experience with previous editions being staged in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Spain. The mix of competition and camaraderie sits at the heart of the LMG Futbol Experience and we are looking forward to bringing the excitement and competitive fun of our Latin American events to London. To be able to hold the tournament alongside iGB L!VE represents a true milestone.”
Welcoming the opportunity to deliver another high profile event as part of iGB L!VE’s London iGaming Week, Global Portfolio Director Naomi Barton noted: “London is the birthplace of igaming so it’s totally appropriate to hold a prestigious industry tournament in the country which was the birthplace of football!
“It’s fantastic to able to work with LatAm Media Group to celebrate the relocation of iGB L!VE to London and create a series of social events to complement all the business lead generation and networking activities that will be available on the iGB L!VE show floor. July’s edition will not only be the largest iGB L!VE on record but also the most valuable and inspirational for our customers, as the event continues to provide an ultra-professional environment in its new London home, right at the heart of the igaming community”.
To enter a team in the LMG Futbol Experience and/or take advantage of the tournament branding and sponsorship opportunities contact Agustin Cikes at [email protected]
iGB L!VE (2nd– 3rd July, ExCeL London) will welcome a projected 15,000 igaming and affiliate pioneers, helping businesses throughout the online gaming ecosystem to navigate an ever-changing landscape via networking opportunities, cutting-edge innovations and crucial market knowledge-sharing. To register for the first edition of the show to be held in London visit: igblive.com
The post New football tournament is part of iGB L!VE’s London iGaming Week appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
AGS Grows Slot Strategy Team with the Addition of Dan Marcus as Vice President of Product Management
AGS (NYSE: AGS), a leading supplier of high-performing slot, table, and interactive products and services to the global gaming industry, today announced the appointment of Daniel “Dan” Marcus as Vice President of Product Management. Marcus will report to Mark DeDeaux, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Slots, and work together with Jackson Floyd, Vice President of Slots, to tackle strategic objectives across the slot products business.
In this role, Marcus will serve as a critical bridge between AGS’ R&D and Sales teams, aligning product strategy and execution across departments. He will lead the full lifecycle of AGS’ slot portfolio—from roadmap development and market release planning to product catalog management and sales enablement. He will also oversee cross-functional alignment across engineering, business development, and marketing to support go-to-market readiness. His responsibilities include managing AGS’ slot footprint throughout North America.
“Dan is a strategic product leader with a deep understanding of both the operational and analytical sides of the gaming business,” said DeDeaux. “His ability to connect product vision with market needs makes him the right person to help accelerate our momentum. As we scale our portfolio and expand into new markets, Dan’s leadership will be critical to driving the next phase of AGS’ growth.”
With over 20 years of experience in the gaming industry, Marcus has held leadership roles at IGT, Bally Technologies, DraftKings, Hard Rock Digital, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Harrah’s Entertainment. He has consistently led high-impact initiatives across product development, performance analytics, and go-to-market strategy. His past work includes overseeing commercial strategy for IGT’s premium segment and founding Bally’s performance consulting group.
The post AGS Grows Slot Strategy Team with the Addition of Dan Marcus as Vice President of Product Management appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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