Connect with us

Latest News

Revealed: The emotional, social, and developmental benefits of gaming

Published

on

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

  • 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.”

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Latest News

Bettormetrics publishes World Cup trading benchmark; Tipico leads uptime ranking

Published

on

bettormetrics-publishes-world-cup-trading-benchmark;-tipico-leads-uptime-ranking

Study of 1,752 Big 5 league matches finds a 12-point uptime gap; live World Cup leaderboard to run during the tournament.

Bettormetrics has launched what it calls the first World Cup Trading Performance Benchmark, ranking sportsbooks on in-play market uptime ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The sports odds intelligence firm said it will publish a live World Cup leaderboard on its website during the tournament to track trading performance.

The benchmark measures operator uptime on the Total Goals market across 1,752 fixtures in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1. Bettormetrics analysed 22 operators and published a Top 10, reporting a gap of more than 12 percentage points between the highest and lowest performers.

Tipico ranked first overall with 95.9% uptime, followed by Fanatics (95.3%) and Betsson (94.9%). Superbet (94.8%) and Betano (94.7%) rounded out the top five. Bettormetrics said Premier League fixtures generally delivered the highest availability across operators, while La Liga was “the key differentiator” and “consistently produced the lowest availability figures across the field.”

The results also highlighted regional shifts. Bettormetrics noted that none of bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes or Paddy Power made the Top 10, while Fanatics placed second overall as the highest-ranked US operator. It also flagged Pinnacle and SBOBET as ranking poorly on in-play availability in this analysis despite “strong reputations for pregame pricing and market depth.”

Sabin Brooks, CEO of Bettormetrics, said: “The World Cup represents one of the highest-risk and highest-opportunity periods in the sportsbook calendar. Small differences in uptime, trading performance and market availability can have a material impact on turnover, profitability and even reputation.

“The World Cup leaderboard will answer one simple question: which sportsbook performed best when it matters most?”

The post Bettormetrics publishes World Cup trading benchmark; Tipico leads uptime ranking appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

GoldenRace

GoldenRace to showcase V5 mobile betting solution at Peru Gaming Show 2026

Published

on

goldenrace-to-showcase-v5-mobile-betting-solution-at-peru-gaming-show-2026

GoldenRace will exhibit at Peru Gaming Show 2026 at the Centro de Exposiciones Jockey in Lima on 17-18 June, where it plans to showcase its new V5 mobile solution, according to the supplier.

The company said the V5 delivery focuses on performance and operator control, with a unified UI/UX built around “ultra-fast performance”, “total brand authority” through customisation, and “intuitive navigation”, including a “one-click hybrid toggle” to access markets.

GoldenRace also plans to highlight its Hit&Win games, including Arcade Heist—“recently crowned with the Game Innovation Award at the SiGMA Africa Awards 2026”—and Fortune Fighters, which the company said is built to run on the V5 infrastructure.

Other products listed for the stand include In-shop Mobile, a retail feature that enables customers to bet on their own devices while in-store, plus virtual Greyhound and Horse Racing content.

The supplier said it will also feature products from other group brands at the show: Spinmatic, Novusbet and Xpress Tech. GoldenRace said attendees can meet the team at stands 11-14.

The post GoldenRace to showcase V5 mobile betting solution at Peru Gaming Show 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

betcore

BetOnGames launches Cricket Strike Crash for its crash games portfolio

Published

on

betongames-launches-cricket-strike-crash-for-its-crash-games-portfolio

BetOnGames, the instant games vertical of the BETCORE ecosystem, has launched Cricket Strike Crash, a sports-themed crash game, the company said on June 4, 2026.

Cricket Strike Crash uses a real-time multiplier that increases while the round continues, with players choosing when to cash out before the crash. BetOnGames positions the title for fast-cycle play and mobile-first sessions.

The game ships with a stated RTP of 97.5% and medium volatility. BetOnGames also says Cricket Strike Crash uses a “provably fair system” designed to provide transparency on outcomes.

Cricket Strike Crash joins BetOnGames’ wider instant games catalogue within BETCORE, alongside TVBET and ElCasino. The group offers operators access to crash games, instant win games and slots via a single B2B integration, according to the company.

A product video is available here.

The post BetOnGames launches Cricket Strike Crash for its crash games portfolio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania