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

Published

3 years ago

December 2, 2020

George Miller

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.”

Latest News

SBC announces major industry event launch in 2025 with SBC Summit Americas

Published

7 hours ago

May 21, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

sbc-announces-major-industry-event-launch-in-2025-with-sbc-summit-americas

SBC has announced the launch of SBC Summit Americas, a reimagined show that combines the strengths of SBC Summit North America and SBC Summit Latinoamérica, creating a single platform for the entire Americas gaming community.

The new look event, scheduled for May 13-15, 2025, will bring together the North American and Latin American gaming markets under one roof for a comprehensive experience of education, networking, and exhibition, and eliminate the need to attend two separate regional shows.

SBC Summit Americas will take place in spectacular Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dubbed the ‘Venice of America’ and renowned for its Blue Wave-certified beaches, the city also offers the accessibility required with direct flights from crucial Latin American, US and European hubs.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC said: “This marks a significant moment for all of us at SBC. When the size of your current venues becomes limiting and cannot meet the demands of the industry, you know it’s time for a change.”

The Broward County Convention Center was selected as the venue for the event, boasting 250,000 square feet of space that enables SBC to accommodate over 8,000 attendees and 300 exhibitors and sponsors.

“Now, it’s Fort Lauderdale’s turn to experience what SBC has to offer. We’re launching a major event for the entire Americas region and transforming it into a key networking hub and a must-attend occasion for anyone who doesn’t want to be left behind,” Sojmark added.

With an emphasis on diverse representation, the event will see participation from over 3,200 operator and 1,000 affiliate representatives. Additionally, it will engage senior management from regulatory bodies, sports clubs, and suppliers in the payments, betting, and casino solutions sectors.

The exhibition and conference experience will also receive an extra boost with the inclusion of three specialized summits: SBC Leaders Summit, Affiliate Leaders Summit, and Payment Expert Summit. This aligns with the company’s focus on attracting senior decision-makers, who usually make up 40% of attendees at SBC’s events.

The conference component, led by 400 regional experts, will feature dedicated stages exploring the main markets of interest. Discussions will span topics in the sports betting and casino sectors, covering both online and land-based domains. Moreover, the event will provide insights into affiliation, emerging technologies and the regional startup scene.

“This also presents a prime opportunity for us to address the concerns of our exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates who struggle to commit to multiple industry events annually. As event organizers, we try to take such feedback on board and act upon it when possible. In this case, it perfectly aligns with our own ambition, which has always been to soar higher and think bigger. When it can be done with greater benefit for our industry friends, it just always feels much better,” Sojmark added.

For more information and to register your interest in the event, visit the official website.

This year’s SBC Summit Latinoamérica is proceeding as planned and will be held on October 29-31, 2024, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Latest News

Scientific Games Promotes Lottery Industry Expert Beth Bresnahan to Chief Communications and Brand Officer

Published

7 hours ago

May 21, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

Scientific Games has named Beth Bresnahan as the company’s Chief Communications and Brand Officer.

Beth Bresnahan Resized.jpg Bresnahan, a veteran lottery industry expert, spent nearly 10 years in leadership roles at the Massachusetts Lottery, including serving as its Executive Director, and headed the District of Columbia’s Office of Lottery & Gaming. With a background in public relations, brand management and product positioning, she joined Scientific Games in 2022 and most recently served as Vice President of Strategic Communications.

The Chief Communications and Brand Officer is a new senior executive role that elevates strategic oversight of Scientific Games’ global communications, ensuring a unified and consistent voice and a strong representation of the company’s brand across all platforms and mediums. In this role, Bresnahan will continue to lead external and internal communications and customer proposals while expanding her leadership to include advertising, trade shows and events.

Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games, said, “This promotion will come as no surprise to those who know and have worked with Beth. Her strategic vision, extensive experience in brand communications and deep knowledge of Scientific Games and the lottery industry have earned her the respect and support of our entire company and leadership team.”

Bresnahan’s promotion is another example of the strategic alignment of Scientific Games’ organization with its business strategy to deliver exceptional value to its customers around the world. The company recently announced the expansion of its legal and public policy teams into a new unified global department, made several key hires in systems and technology, and increased focus and execution on products, technology, analytics and marketing across retail and digital to further accelerate customer growth and return to good causes.

Bresnahan has dedicated nearly 25 years to developing impactful communications, marketing and business strategies for several public and private sector organizations. In addition to her lottery industry experience, Bresnahan’s previous work spans serving as CEO of a regional print media outlet to providing strategic communications consultation to multiple top-tier national brands, including the Boston Red Sox, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Citizens Financial Group and Wynn Resorts. She also led public and legislative relations for several government agencies in her home state of Massachusetts.

Scientific Games is a trusted partner to 150 lotteries in 50 countries around the globe, providing games, technologies, analytics and services that responsibly drive maximum returns to their beneficiary programs.

Gambling in the USA

Jackpot.com Inducted as Associate Member in North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL)

Published

7 hours ago

May 21, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

jackpot.com-inducted-as-associate-member-in-north-american-association-of-state-and-provincial-lotteries-(naspl)

Online lottery courier welcomed by the industry-leading group.

Leading online lottery courier, Jackpot.com, announced today that it has received approval to join NASPL as an Associate Member organization. NASPL represents 53 lottery organizations across North America, advocating on matters of general lottery policy and leveraging collaboration, communication, education, and information for the advancement of the industry. Jackpot.com is excited to join this dynamic community, bringing years of knowledge and experience to help impact and support its ongoing growth.

“It is an absolute honor to be joining the NASPL community,” said Akshay Khanna, CEO and Co-Founder of Jackpot.com. “As Jackpot.com continues to grow and expand its presence in additional member states, we could not be more excited to collaborate with regulators and other NASPL members to help sustain future opportunities for contributing to worthy causes and the drive towards responsible gaming.”

Since its inception, Jackpot.com has made responsible gaming a focal point in their operations and is the only lottery courier service to launch with iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling. The company has set a new standard for responsible gaming and has significantly invested in integrating gaming protections that include allowing customers to set spend limits, setting default limits on daily deposits, providing access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help should problematic behavior be detected.

“NASPL is pleased to have Jackpot.com as an associate member; and look forward to working with them throughout the year and beyond”, said Jake Coy, Director of Partner Relations at NASPL.

Jackpot.com currently operates in Massachusetts, Arkansas, New York, Ohio and Texas, and has received investments from major investors in sports, entertainment, and gaming, such as Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, San Francisco 49ers, the Tisch family (co-owners of the New York Giants), the Haslam Sports Group (owners of the Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew), Kraft Sports & Entertainment (owners of the New England Patriots), Michael Rubin (founder of Fanatics), and NBA stars James Harden and Joel Embiid.

For more information, please visit Jackpot.com.