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Emotions test reveals: The online purchases making us 67% happier!
- On average, online purchases are found to raise our positive feelings by 56%
- Participants reported the biggest increase in happiness when purchasing houseplants – positive emotions soared by 67%
- Gaming console purchases saw the second highest increase in positive feelings (+66%)
- Trainers and fiction books are also among the purchases raising positive emotions most
- Holidays abroad came in last; participants noted high levels of excitement but also reported an increase in concern due to its uncertainty
Thanks to ‘doom shopping’, it was revealed that the UK spends three times more when online shopping compared to the global average, costing the average person a whooping £1,382 per year! Clearly these purchases keep us coming back for more, but how do we enjoy splashing our cash the most?
Interested in online shopping, money.co.uk conducted an emotions test among 2,560 participants to discover which online purchases bring us the most joy!
Participants were asked to complete a variation* of the BMIS test (Brief Mood Intensity Scale) and record the intensity of 10 different emotions after making an online purchase. The intensity of each emotion was allocated a score based on its positivity, with a maximum score of 500 points per item – the higher the score, the better. Participants were also asked to complete the same test before making any purchases to uncover the percentage increase in positive emotions when shopping.
Which online purchases make us happiest?
Money.co.uk can reveal that a houseplant purchase increases our intensity of positive emotions more than any other transaction!
Collecting 478 points out of a potential 500, moods improved by 67% after making a plant purchase. Plants are proven to invoke feelings of vitality by improving the state of mind and lifting spirits – no wonder it scores highly!
With the PS5 still proving hard to get, purchasing a gaming console is the second online transaction that makes us happiest.
As many gamers are left on the edge of their seats waiting to snatch the latest console, it accumulated 475 points out of 500, and purchasing a console was found to raise positive feelings by 66% on average.
In third position are trainer purchases. With the demand for sneakers like Jordan 1s only increasing, those who purchased new trainers reported a 64% increase in happiness, and purchases racked up 472 points.
With bookworms reported to be happier than those who don’t read, the transaction that makes us fourth happiest is a fiction book, improving positive emotions by 64% and collecting 470 points.
Due to the huge surge in personal fitness and wellbeing during lockdown, home gym equipment purchases are found to make us fifth happiest! This transaction led to a 63% increase in positive emotions and scored a healthy 468 points.
To complete the top 10 purchases that increase our intensity of positive emotions:
6. Video game: 466 points, +62%
7. Eyeshadow palette: 465 points, +62%
8. Scented candle: 463 points, +61%
9. Exercise clothing: 461 points, +61%
10. Fashion jewellery: 459, +60%
Coming in last is a holiday abroad with 393 points out of 500 (+37%). Those who plan on jet-setting this year reported high levels of excitement and happiness but were pushed down the table as feelings of worry and nerves due to its current uncertainty.
Interested in the reasons behind our vast improvement in positive feelings, money.co.uk spoke exclusively to Lee Chambers, psychologist and wellbeing consultant, to uncover why shopping makes us happy.
“Online shopping has the ability to make us happy through several different mechanisms. Firstly, even in a world of plenty, we are still evolutionarily designed to consider scarcity. Because of this, acquiring new items, especially when discounted or limited, tends to make us happy, the feeling we have satisfied a need and potentially averted a future threat.
Shopping is also an exercise in control. We select from millions of items precisely what we want, and especially in the uncertain times we live in, we know we will get exactly what we have purchased, and it will be delivered straight to us. This control of selection and guarantee of receipt is powerful, as it becomes a defined event. We also build a level of expectation and anticipation from the moment we press the purchase button, as we believe we now have ownership over the item but have a delay until it is with us physically.
From a cultural perspective, we have been conditioned to see shopping as a reward, either an investment in ourselves or for the satisfaction of others. Shopping is likely to activate the nucleus accumbens in our brain, releasing dopamine and motivating us to repeat the behaviour. Buying printed media taps into our desire to better ourselves, gain knowledge, understand the world around us and provide stories and entertainment that can take us on a journey. And let’s not forget how lovely they look on your bookshelf on a video call, as books have become a decorative symbol over the past year.
And why do we keep buying? Our brain is adaptive, and shopping can relieve stress, provide entertainment when bored and give us a hit of dopamine. The rewarding feeling will keep us finding new things to purchase, especially since our excitement and anticipation fade once we’ve received the item.”
Catherine Hilley, mobiles expert at money.co.uk, said: “Our research reveals how small purchases can increase customers’ emotions in a positive way, something we all need after the past 12 months. With an average 63% increase in positive emotions noted across all top 10 purchases, it seems that shopping online for items such as houseplants, trainers and candles are sparking a lot more joy at the moment, than booking a holiday, which comes with a lot of added uncertainty.”
For more information, please see the blog post for the full rankings and a breakdown by sex, and age: https://www.money.co.uk/mobiles/online-shopping-joy
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Amusnet
Amusnet Celebrates Football Season with the Launch of Ca$hybara Football Edition
As football fever takes over the world and fans unite around the beautiful game, Amusnet is bringing the excitement from the stadium straight to the casino floor with the launch of Ca$hybara Football Edition – the latest addition to the beloved Ca$hybara series.
This energetic crash game puts players at the center of the action, where every touch of the ball could lead to bigger rewards. Taking the spotlight once again is the unstoppable Ca$hybara, this time stepping onto the football pitch with confidence, skill and plenty of flair.
In Ca$hybara Football Edition, the charismatic sports star keeps the ball airborne through an impressive display of juggling mastery. With every successful touch, the multiplier climbs higher, creating a thrilling balance between risk and reward. The challenge is simple: decide how long to stay in the game before cashing out. The longer Ca$hybara remains in control, the greater the potential winnings – but one missed touch can change everything.
Designed to keep players engaged from kick-off to the final whistle, the game introduces constant decision-making throughout every round. Players can choose to secure part of their winnings with the 50% Cashout option or continue riding the momentum in pursuit of even bigger multipliers. Timing, confidence and a little courage will determine who comes out on top.
Adding another layer of excitement are the popular Jackpot Cards, Amusnet’s signature jackpot feature, offering players additional chances for rewarding surprises and making every session even more dynamic.
With its football-inspired theme, fast-paced gameplay, and familiar Ca$hybara charm, Ca$hybara Football Edition arrives at the perfect moment, capturing the energy and passion of the season when football dominates conversations across the globe.
Whether players are seasoned crash game enthusiasts or discovering the genre for the first time, Ca$hybara Football Edition delivers an entertaining experience where every second counts and every decision matters.
Gamble
Play the game and multiply the winnings through the Gambling feature.
Multipliers
The game starts with a multiplier set at 1x and rises gradually and can go up to a max coefficient of 1,000,000. Multiplier can potentially crash at 1x, ending the game round.
50% Cash Out
Players can cash out 50% of their bet during the game round and continue playing with the remaining 50%.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.
The post Amusnet Celebrates Football Season with the Launch of Ca$hybara Football Edition appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ArenaPlus
DigiPlus Wins “Digital Operator of the Year” Award at 2026 Global Gaming Awards Asia-Pacific
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. (DigiPlus), the country’s premier digital entertainment provider behind BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, has been named Digital Operator of the Year at the 2026 Global Gaming Awards Asia-Pacific, marking its second consecutive annual win in the category and reinforcing its leading industry position in the APAC region. The recognition was announced during the Global Gaming Awards ceremony held on June 2 at Conrad Manila.
One of the international gaming industry’s most prestigious awards programmes, the Global Gaming Awards, powered by Global Gaming Insider, recognise excellence in innovation, player experience, responsible gaming and operational excellence across both land-based and online gaming sectors. Winners are selected by a panel of senior industry executives with extensive experience and deep knowledge of the market, with the voting process independently adjudicated by KPMG to ensure rigor and transparency.
The Digital Operator of the Year category recognises operators that have demonstrated outstanding growth, innovation and player engagement over the past 12 months. DigiPlus emerged victorious from a shortlist of eight nominees, besting seven other operators across APAC.
Judges highlighted DigiPlus’ strong 2025 performance, the addition of over 500 new e-games on its platforms, and the rollout of industry-first responsible gaming tools. The company also continues its momentum in 2026 through major partnerships, including recently launched collaborations with Manny Pacquiao and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In addition to its top industry honor, DigiPlus earned further recognition for its social impact initiatives, securing the first runner-up spot in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the Year category.
The awards body commended DigiPlus for its impressive CSR work via the DigiPlus Foundation which delivers healthcare, education, disaster relief, and social empowerment programs to over 1 million beneficiaries and counting across the Philippines.
“We are honored to once again be recognized by the Global Gaming Awards. These prestigious international industry accolades reflect DigiPlus’ unwavering pursuit of excellence and our drive to continuously innovate, deepen player engagement, and champion responsible gaming across BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone,” said DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco.
“Together with the recognition for DigiPlus Foundation, this back-to-back win affirms our commitment to delivering world-class digital entertainment to Filipinos while contributing to nation-building.”
The Global Gaming Awards also hold annual editions in the Americas and EMEA regions, recognising industry excellence across the globe.
The post DigiPlus Wins “Digital Operator of the Year” Award at 2026 Global Gaming Awards Asia-Pacific appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Greece
SYNOT Games Announces New Partnership with Superbet
In a move that further reinforces its footprint across regulated European markets, SYNOT Games has announced a new partnership with Superbet, a prominent platform in Greece. The collaboration certified SYNOT titles, including some of the studio’s latest and most innovative releases, to the casino’s rapidly growing grid.
Players on Superbet can now enjoy great slots such as Respin Joker 81, Aztec Jaguar and Toro Wilds Reel. These additions expand Superbet’s offering with a spectrum of engaging mechanics, artistic design and mobile-first performance, ensuring the highest-quality entertainment for Greek audiences.
The agreement is part of SYNOT Games’ strategic initiative to solidify its presence exclusively in licensed, regulated markets by providing certified content through partnerships with established, trusted regional operators.
Martina Krajčí, Chief Commercial Officer at SYNOT Games, said: “We are excited to bring our portfolio to Greek players through this strategic alliance with Superbet. Greece represents a market with great potential and an audience that appreciates quality, variety, and innovation. Superbet’s agility and commitment to delivering premium entertainment make them an ideal partner for our continued Mediterranean expansion.”
Superbet, known for its user-centric approach and cutting-edge platform, views the addition of SYNOT Games content as a key enhancement to its offering and a testament to its mission of hosting best-in-class gaming experiences.
Stathis Leontaritis, Casino Lead at Superbet, said: “Our partnership with SYNOT Games further strengthens our commitment to delivering a diverse and engaging gaming portfolio to Greek customers. With its proven track record across Central and Eastern Europe, unique game mechanics, and strong land-based heritage, Synot brings a distinctive content offering that complements our existing Superbet portfolio and supports our goal of providing a premium online entertainment experience to players in Greece.”
This collaboration not only empowers Superbet to differentiate its portfolio further but also underscores SYNOT Games’ long-term commitment to regulated growth, responsible gaming, and working exclusively with trusted local operators – a model increasingly valued by players and regulators.
The post SYNOT Games Announces New Partnership with Superbet appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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