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Emotions test reveals: The online purchases making us 67% happier!

Published

5 years ago

March 24, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

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

BetConstruct AI

BetConstruct AI Set to Transform the African iGaming Frontier at SiGMA Africa 2026

Published

41 minutes ago

February 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

betconstruct-ai-set-to-transform-the-african-igaming-frontier-at-sigma-africa-2026

BetConstruct AI is proud to announce its participation in SiGMA Africa 2026, demonstrating its commitment to technological innovation and operator empowerment across the rapidly growing African iGaming market.

Visitors to Stand N 062 will experience BetConstruct AI’s full suite of AI-driven solutions, designed to optimize player engagement, automate operations, and deliver high-performance platforms tailored to Africa’s diverse regulatory and market requirements.

AI-Powered Platform Solutions

The showcase features BetConstruct AI’s industry-leading Sportsbook and Casino Platforms, engineered to handle high-volume traffic while maintaining stability and scalability for the continent’s expanding player base.

In addition to core betting infrastructure, BetConstruct AI provides tools for operator autonomy and efficiency:

CMS Pro – A centralized content management hub streamlining business operations.
SpringBuilder X – A mobile-first, SEO-driven drag-and-drop website builder with AI-assisted optimization for speed and simplicity.
BetChain AI – Revolutionary AI-assisted design for iGaming websites, enabling partners to build and manage digital identities quickly and efficiently.

BetConstruct AI Suite: Enhancing Operator Performance

CRM AI – Advanced behavioral analytics to boost player retention and loyalty.
Umbrella AI – Real-time risk management and automated player protection.
AI Game Recommendation System – Personalized content delivery to increase engagement across demographics.
Betting Mate – AI companion providing real-time stats and insights to enhance the player experience.

The Choice to Grow Program
Operators can participate in “The Choice to Grow”, a performance-based initiative offering a 51% invoice discount every third month for achieving a 16.67% GGR increase per quarter across products including Sportsbook, Virtual Sports, and partner brands such as PopOK Gaming and CreedRoomz. Premium service benefits are included.

Harmony Dinner: Networking & Collaboration
On March 4, BetConstruct AI will host the Harmony Dinner at Cabo Beach, Cape Town, an exclusive event fostering collaboration among industry leaders, operators, and visionaries to discuss the future of gaming and shared growth opportunities.

Visit Stand N 062
BetConstruct AI invites industry stakeholders, operators, and media to explore its AI-driven ecosystem, demonstrating how connected technology enables operational efficiency, innovation, and market leadership in Africa.

The post BetConstruct AI Set to Transform the African iGaming Frontier at SiGMA Africa 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

B2Tech

B2Tech to Present at SiGMA Africa 2026 in Cape Town, Showcasing Its Integrated Betting Ecosystem

Published

2 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

b2tech-to-present-at-sigma-africa-2026-in-cape-town,-showcasing-its-integrated-betting-ecosystem

B2Tech will present at SiGMA Africa 2026, highlighting its omni-channel platform technology and continued growth across regulated African jurisdictions. The company’s participation underscores its focus on delivering a unified framework connecting core platform infrastructure, operator brands, marketing services, and embedded payments.

SiGMA Africa brings together iGaming and digital entertainment stakeholders, including licensed operators, affiliates, regulators, investors, and suppliers. With African regulation evolving rapidly, the summit will explore compliance, licensing, market entry strategies, and financial solutions.

Integrated Platform Solutions

B2Tech designs best-in-class sportsbook and casino platform technology, optimized for mobile-first deployment and regulated markets. The platform includes:

Localization features: multi-currency support and compliance aligned with market-by-market obligations
Operational tools: risk management, performance analytics, and regulatory adherence
Scalable infrastructure: supporting efficient and consistent operations across multiple jurisdictions

B2Tech powers numerous licensed sportsbook and iGaming operations across Africa, combining global technology standards with local operational expertise. The company enables operators to adapt to evolving regulations while maintaining scalable, high-performance systems.

YellowBet: Pan-African Sportsbook & iGaming Brand
Within the B2Tech ecosystem, YellowBet operates as a pan-African sportsbook and iGaming brand powered by B2Tech’s proprietary platform. Centralized control ensures performance, reporting, and regulatory compliance at a group level, while maintaining market-specific flexibility to provide tailored betting experiences. Learn more: yellowbet.com

Africa Bet Partners: Structured Affiliate Program
The Africa Bet Partners program supports affiliate acquisition across regulated African markets with defined commission models, reporting transparency, and localized promotional alignment. This enables affiliates to access regulated markets in a controlled and compliant manner. More info: africabetpartners.com

PayAlo: Embedded Payments Infrastructure
Integrated payments are delivered via PayAlo, embedded in B2Tech’s platform and compatible with API integrations for third-party platforms. PayAlo supports deposits and withdrawals across jurisdictions while ensuring compliance, synchronized reporting, and unified transaction monitoring.

SiGMA Africa 2026 Presence
At Booth 73, attendees can meet B2Tech’s leadership team to discuss platform architecture, market expansion, and ecosystem development, and learn how a centralized, integrated platform model supports regulatory compliance and sustainable operations.

About B2Tech
B2Tech is a technology provider specializing in sportsbook and casino platform solutions for regulated African markets. B2Tech empowers licensed operators with scalable, compliant technology, enabling growth across multiple markets under a single unified management system.

Contact
Norman Itumo Nthiwa
B2Tech Communications
[email protected]

The post B2Tech to Present at SiGMA Africa 2026 in Cape Town, Showcasing Its Integrated Betting Ecosystem appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Atlaslive

Atlaslive Shortlisted in Five Categories at GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

Published

2 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

atlaslive-shortlisted-in-five-categories-at-gamingtech-cee-awards-2026

Atlaslive, a leading B2B iGaming platform provider, has been shortlisted in five categories at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026. The awards are part of the HIPTHER Prague Summit, scheduled for March 24–25, 2026, in Prague, Czech Republic.

The company has been nominated in the following categories:

Best Online Casino Provider in CEE
Online Casino Innovator of the Year (CEE)
Best iGaming Platform Provider (PAM) in CEE
Best Live Casino Provider in CEE
Best Sports Betting Provider in CEE

These nominations highlight Atlaslive’s presence across platform infrastructure, live casino solutions, sportsbook operations, and product development.

Anastasiia Poltavets, CMO at Atlaslive, said:

“This recognition across five categories reflects the breadth of our platform. We focus on building infrastructure that performs under scale, supports multi-vertical growth, and adapts to evolving regulatory standards. Being shortlisted in both casino and sportsbook categories confirms that our approach delivers measurable impact across the full iGaming ecosystem.”

The GamingTECH CEE Awards spotlight innovation, operational performance, and leadership within the Central and Eastern European gaming and technology sector, recognizing companies contributing to platform development and service quality across regulated markets. Online voting is now open, and industry peers can cast their vote via the official GamingTECH CEE Awards page. Winners will be revealed during the awards ceremony at the HIPTHER Prague Summit in March.

Atlaslive continues to develop scalable, performance-focused iGaming infrastructure for operators across regulated markets.

About Atlaslive
Atlaslive is an iGaming platform provider delivering a dynamic platform for live operations and regulated growth. Casino, Sportsbook, and unified All-in-One solutions are available via White Label, Turnkey, and API integration models, enabling operators to launch faster, scale confidently, and retain full control over their business and growth strategy.

The post Atlaslive Shortlisted in Five Categories at GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.