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Revealed: The emotional, social, and developmental benefits of gaming
- 28% of internet users play games to meet new people
- A third of gamers say they play because they like to challenge themselves.
- There are 20,000 gaming jobs in the UK, providing plenty of opportunity for a career in the industry
- We spoke to three experts in the field who gave their insights into the gaming industry
There are lots of negative misconceptions about gaming, many of which are far from the truth. A new study turns stereotypes on their heads and reveals the emotional, social, and developmental benefits of gaming. Dr Rachel Kowert, Research Director of Take This – a mental health non-profit; Dr Matthew Barr, a lecturer of Game Studies at the University of Glasgow; and Noel McDermott, a psychotherapist and presenter of The Well-Being Show podcast, provide their thoughts and insights. Here are some of the highlights:
Gaming can boost mental wellbeing and help with feelings of loneliness
- Thanks to well-crafted storylines and lifelike graphics, games are the perfect form of escapism
- 34% of gamers identify the feeling of being immersed in a game as a key motivation to play
- The global gaming population is likely to have increased by 4% since the outbreak of Covid-19
Especially in challenging times, activities that provide a positive distraction and allow an individual to put their worries to the back of their mind can have a beneficial impact on mental wellbeing. Gaming is an excellent example of this, offering an immersive experience that can mentally transport you to another world.
Barr says, “Video games are good at getting players into the state of optimal experience that psychologists call ‘flow’, by offering an appropriate balance of challenge versus achievement. It’s that feeling of being ‘in the zone’, where you’re totally absorbed in the task at hand, and you’re operating at the top of your game. In turn, this has a positive impact on how players feel.”
This is because the sense of reward releases feel-good hormones called dopamine that boost the player’s mood. What’s more, gaming can offer meditative benefits by fully occupying your mind with the objectives of the game.
Kowert adds that, “Gameplay can also teach skills that have long been associated with increased happiness and prolonged life satisfaction, including openness to experience, self-care, a growth mindset, solution-focused thinking, mindfulness, persistence, self-discovery, and resilience.”
Gaming can maintain and build new relationships
- Half of gamers play with their real-life friends
- 28% of internet users play games to meet new people
- 1 in 3 internet users in the UK say the main reason they game is to have fun with people they know
Contrary to popular belief, gaming can be a sociable activity. Many games offer multiplayer modes or are designed to be played in teams, providing the opportunity for individuals to join forces with their existing friends or virtually meet new people – located anywhere in the world.
McDermott says, “Gaming, especially online, can provide immeasurable benefits to those who are lonely and isolated. It provides safe social contact and a place where skills can be developed. These skills can provide a much-needed boost to self-esteem.”
Research found that 60% of gamers report playing more games with social elements since the beginning of the pandemic, suggesting gaming can play a positive and pivotal role in connecting people at a time when face-to-face contact isn’t always possible.
Kowert explains, “Shared experiences, like playing games together, have been linked to increased self-esteem and a sense of belonging, as well as decreased feelings of depression, anxiety, and isolation.”
Gaming can teach life skills and cognitive abilities
- There are 20,000 gaming jobs in the UK, providing plenty of opportunity for a career in gaming
- Minecraft: Education Edition, for example, has applications in geography, history, engineering, and physics
- A third of gamers say they play because they like to challenge themselves.
While gaming can provide a fun form of entertainment, it can also contribute to the player’s cognitive development. For example, many titles involve problem solving, strategy and multi-tasking, among other skills.
Kowert explains, “Games are fantastic learning tools, particularly for children, because they are so engaging. Video games are also great vehicles for sharpening cognitive skills because they provide a range of different challenges within a single space. Gameplay has been associated with the improvement of a range of cognitive skills, including:
- improved creative thinking
- problem solving
- time management
- leadership skills
- goal setting
- initiative taking
- decision making
- persistence in the face of difficult challenges.”
It’s estimated that children aged 12-15 years old spend an average of 11.6 hours a week gaming. So, with gaming being such a widely enjoyed hobby, it’s encouraging to note that it could be effectively harnessed as an educational tool to teach numerous skills and knowledge. What’s more, with the gaming industry growing year-on-year (and estimated to be worth £3.86 billion in 2020), it could also open doors for careers in the industry.
Barr explains, “We all learn new skills through practice, whether that’s learning how to play an instrument or training to play sports more proficiently. Learning from a video game is no different – you’re exercising skills all the time, whether it’s figuring out puzzles or using your communication and language skills to talk to and strategize with your fellow players.”
Gaming myths debunked
- 52% of Brits play video games, demonstrating its popularity and prevalence in daily life
- Gaming is the nation’s second favourite pastime, after watching TV
- Brits spend an average of 7 hours a week gaming, which is just a third of the time spent watching TV (22.5 hrs)
Over the years, gaming has been associated with negative stereotypes and behaviours, such as laziness, violence, and isolation. There is little evidence to prove any of these correct. Instead, in many cases, gaming can be more beneficial for the player’s health, development, and social abilities than it is detrimental. In fact, with over half of Brits playing games, it’s apparent that gaming is just a part of modern life for many.
Kowert explains, “There is no evidence to suggest that playing games online has a negative impact on our ability to socialise. However, research has found that playing games with our friends online can strengthen our offline friendships and relationships.”
Another concern that often arises is the amount of time people spend gaming and whether gaming has addictive qualities. Talking on the topic, Barr explains that, “People talk about players becoming ‘addicted’ to games, without really considering what that word means, in a clinical sense. We don’t bat an eyelid when someone becomes so engrossed in a book that they sit there reading for hours on end, but somehow this sort of behaviour is perceived as problematic when it comes to games.”
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GR8 Tech has launched a major upgrade to its Tournament engine, featuring a new tournament lobby, enhanced multi-currency support, and manual prize distribution. These new additions allow operators to run global tournaments more efficiently while boosting player engagement.
“Tournaments play a big role in increasing player retention and driving revenue growth,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. “Our latest enhancements allow operators to customize tournaments and maximize participation. The more engaged players are, the longer they stay and the more they play, which leads to an increased profit for the operator.”
Tools to Turn the Win On: What’s New in GR8 Tech’s Tournament Suite?
- The Tournament Lobby centralizes access, allowing players to browse, sign up, and join competitions effortlessly. Players can also easily navigate current, upcoming, and past events in one place. Competitions are automatically prioritized based on participation, ensuring players see the most relevant options. Operators benefit from simplified tournament management and personalized user experience that increases engagement.
- With Manual Prize Distribution, operators gain full control over prize allocation and reward systems. They can customize prize structures by defining the number of prizes, setting amounts, and creating unique payout tiers. Operators can tailor prize pools for small events or high-stakes competitions to suit any tournament size.
- Enhanced Multi-Currency Support enables operators to run tournaments in any of the 160+ fiat and cryptocurrency options supported by the platform. The system ensures that only relevant games and players appear based on the chosen currency, providing a seamless and localized experience. This flexibility allows operators to expand their reach and cater to diverse markets without operational complexity.
Designed with a client-first mindset, “Turn the Win On” Tournament Suite provides operators with seamless flexibility, deeper engagement, and effortless management—all in one powerful solution. And more enhancements are already in development, bringing data-driven insights, advanced customization, and new engagement mechanics to elevate tournament experiences even further. GR8 Tech’s Tournament Suite continues to evolve, ensuring operators have the tools to stay ahead in a competitive market and maximize every tournament’s potential.
The post GR8 Tech Unveils “Turn the Win On” Tournament Suite appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Indian cricket legend becomes the latest athlete to promote the world’s number one crash games to his fans
SPRIBE, the pioneering software provider behind the world’s number one crash game, Aviator, has added cricket legend Suresh Raina to its growing roster of brand ambassadors.
Raina is a former Indian international cricketer known for his explosive batting, sharp fielding and inspiring team leadership.
He was a key player in India’s 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup victory and was also a star player for the Chennai Super Kings, helping the team secure multiple Indian Premier League titles.
His accolades don’t stop there. Raina was the first Indian to score a T20I century and remains one of League’s top run-scorers to this day.
Outside of cricket, he’s a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and influential public figure.
As an Aviator brand ambassador, Raina will promote the game to his fans across various channels and through a range of campaigns over the coming 12 months.
He joins other Aviator brand ambassadors such as UFC superstars like Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira, Johnny Walker and Merab Dvalishvili.
Aviator is the original crash game with more than 42 million active players a month placing upwards of 350,000 bets per minute across more than 5,500 online casino sites.
David Natroshvili, Founder & CEO at SPRIBE, said: “We are hitting for six with the partnership with Suresh, one of the most iconic and celebrated cricketers in India.
“Suresh was renowned for his explosive batting and thrilling style of play, and this makes him the perfect person to help us drive awareness of Aviator among cricket and sports fans in India.
“Aviator is the original crash game and players love the high-risk/high-reward gameplay it provides, and we are really looking forward to rolling out campaigns featuring Suresh that show this.”
Suresh Raina, former Indian cricketer and now Aviator ambassador, added: “Playing Aviator is the closest I have come to the thrill of playing professional cricket and I couldn’t be happier to help drive awareness of the game among my fans and followers.
“Aviator is action-packed with tons of social interaction and plenty of big win potential. Players have control over the outcome as they get to decide when to cash out – for those that can hold their nerve the longest, the biggest prizes await.
“SPRIBE has some great campaigns planned for the months ahead and I look forward to working with the team to help Aviator really take flight among cricket fans in India and beyond.”
The post Hitting for six: SPRIBE announces Suresh Raina as Aviator brand ambassador appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affiliate Industry
1spin4win announces casino network promotion “Variety of Luck” with €25K prize pool
Fast-growing online slots provider 1spin4win is launching a new casino promotion on a wide selection of its classic games, from fruit-themed to story-based ones, to help operators engage their players.
1spin4win’s fresh Cash & Drops promo will take place from March 28 to April 10, 2025. The prize pool will amount to €25,000, the highest sum offered by 1spin4win so far, compared to previous campaigns, which distributed €20,000 each. The rewards will be randomly awarded across 680 cash prizes to players who wager real money in dedicated games. Wins will be automatically credited to players’ balances without the need for any extra configurations from the online casino.
The provider showcases the diversity of its portfolio through this campaign, as both fans of pure classics and lovers of thematic games will have fascinating 1spin4win titles to spin: from the story-driven Don Catleone Hold and Win to straightforward fruit-and-coin action of Lucky Win Spins and Lucky Win Spins X. Hence the campaign’s name — “Variety of Luck.”
This is one of the many effective promotional tools from 1spin4win, which also include special in-game features and additional marketing solutions such as pre-releases and free spins, all of which cultivate player loyalty. “Variety of Luck” will help online iGaming platforms attract players, enhance their engagement and loyalty, increase GGR, and boost betting volume. It will also foster brand support and visibility.
Olga Hlukhovskaya, Business Development Director at 1spin4win, commented, “We appreciate our clients and always think of ways to help them thrive. Cash & Drops campaigns are an example of this. They allow our partner operators to re-engage their audience and advertise player-friendliness, all with minimum effort. Like any promo tool by 1spin4win, “Variety of Luck” is easy to use since we take care of all technical aspects ourselves.”
10 exciting games were picked for this network promotion, each representing its own version of iGaming entertainment, but all of them united by the concept of luck. Players can hit it big in the following classic slot titles:
- Clover Fest Hold And Win — new slot!
- Don Catleone Hold And Win — new slot!
- Lucky Win Spins
- Cash’n Fruits Hold And Win
- Lucky Win Spins X
- Allways Lucky Pot
- Cash’n Fruits Fortune 243
- Coins Sniffer Hold And Win
- Golden Joker 27 Hold And Win
- Lucky Jane In Egypt Win Spins
For further details and inquiries, please contact your appointed Account Manager, or 1spin4win’s Business Development Director at [email protected].
To learn more about promotional tools and custom offers, visit the studio’s website.
The post 1spin4win announces casino network promotion “Variety of Luck” with €25K prize pool appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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