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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

EU gambling policy

Romania Proposes Raising Gambling Age to 21 and Restricting Online Advertising

Published

11 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

romania-proposes-raising-gambling-age-to-21-and-restricting-online-advertising

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Romanian lawmakers have introduced new legislative proposals aimed at tightening gambling access and advertising rules, particularly to protect young people. The bills, submitted by MPs Raluca Turcan (PNL) and Diana Stoica (USR), would raise the minimum legal gambling age from 18 to 21 and restrict online gambling advertising between 06:00 and 24:00.

Under the proposals, individuals under the age of 21 would be prohibited from participating in gambling activities, while gambling ads would be banned across online platforms during daytime hours. The legislation also seeks to outlaw the use of influencers, athletes and public figures in gambling promotions.

Protecting young audiences

“We have an obligation to protect our children from the threat of gambling,” said USR deputy Diana Stoica, citing studies showing early exposure to slot machines and online betting among Romanian minors. According to Stoica, brain development, particularly in areas linked to impulse control and decision-making, continues until around the age of 21, making younger individuals more vulnerable to gambling addiction.

“One in four adolescents has played on these so-called ‘machines of death’ before turning 18,” she added, arguing that the legislation is a necessary step to reduce risks.

Aligning with European trends

PNL deputy Raluca Turcan called the proposed age increase a “simple change with deep effects,” noting that countries including Portugal, Greece and Moldova have adopted similar measures. She highlighted that individuals aged 18 to 21 often face increased financial pressure and impulsivity as they enter adulthood, making them a key target group for gambling marketing.

“By raising the age threshold, we protect young people during a vulnerable stage,” Turcan stated, referencing international examples where similar policies reportedly reduced early-age indebtedness and problem gambling cases.

Tighter ad rules and warning messages

The draft legislation further proposes:

A complete ban on online gambling advertising between 06:00 and 24:00
A ban on influencer and public-figure participation in gambling promotions
Mandatory visible harm-prevention warnings across digital and physical gambling environments, modeled after tobacco and alcohol regulation

The measures would amend Romania’s existing legal framework under Emergency Ordinance 77/2009.

What comes next

The bills will now proceed through the legislative process, including debate and committee review. If adopted, the changes would introduce some of the most restrictive gambling-advertising and access rules in the region.

The initiatives reflect an ongoing trend across Europe, where regulators are increasing focus on consumer protection, youth safeguards, and advertising limitations in the gambling sector.

The post Romania Proposes Raising Gambling Age to 21 and Restricting Online Advertising appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Digitain

Digitain Group Founder Honored with Outstanding Contribution to Gaming Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025

Published

14 hours ago

November 5, 2025

George Miller

digitain-group-founder-honored-with-outstanding-contribution-to-gaming-award-at-sigma-central-europe-2025

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Digitain Group is proud to announce that its Founder, Mr. Vardges Vardanyan, has been recognized with the Outstanding Contribution to Gaming Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025.

For over 26 years, his vision and leadership have brought remarkable value to the iGaming industry — driving innovation, setting new standards in technology and compliance, and championing a culture of responsibility and integrity that continues to elevate the entire iGaming ecosystem.

Vardges Vardanyan, Founder of Digitain Group, commented: “I am deeply honored to receive this special award at the SiGMA Central Europe. This recognition is not only a personal milestone but a reflection of the dedication, innovation, and integrity that highlight Digitain Group’s vision. For over two decades, our mission has been to empower partners with technology that drives progress and responsibility across the industry. I am extremely proud of what we’ve built together — and even more inspired by what lies ahead as we continue to evolve.”

As a global B2B technology provider, Digitain Group remains dedicated to creating, delivering, and enhancing advanced software solutions that empower partners worldwide. Digitain’s platforms, products, and services are built to provide operators across diverse markets with reliable, flexible, and secure iGaming solutions.

With over 5,000 professionals and offices in Armenia, Romania, Malta, and Spain, and with an upcoming expansion into LatAm, Digitain continues to drive forward with the same passion and purpose inspired by Mr. Vardanyan’s legacy.

The post Digitain Group Founder Honored with Outstanding Contribution to Gaming Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Best Marketing Campaign 2025

SOFTSWISS Wins Best Marketing Campaign Award in iGaming

Published

16 hours ago

November 5, 2025

George Miller

softswiss-wins-best-marketing-campaign-award-in-igaming

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SOFTSWISS, a global tech leader in iGaming solutions, has won the Best Marketing Campaign 2025 title at the SiGMA Central Europe Awards for its ‘Hungry for Success? Dive in with SOFTSWISS’ campaign. The award recognises outstanding creativity, innovation, and execution in marketing campaigns that drive measurable engagement and have a significant industry impact.

The campaign made its debut at ICE Barcelona 2025, where SOFTSWISS introduced the image of a shark as a symbol of its strength, precision, and the drive to stay ahead. It encouraged partners to ‘dive in’ and grow together with SOFTSWISS, reinforcing the brand’s position as a technology leader in iGaming.

Alongside an interactive stand experience, the campaign featured a collaborative art performance by a renowned Spanish street artist Slim Safont, who created a striking shark mural live at the entrance of the expo venue. This activity reinforced the campaign’s message, leaving visitors with an unforgettable experience of interacting with the SOFTSWISS brand.

Across digital channels, ‘Hungry for Success’ achieved exceptional results, delivering strong visibility and engagement on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google Ads. The campaign outperformed expectations in terms of impressions and reach, while earning outstanding participant feedback for its creativity and execution.

Valentina Bagniya, Chief Marketing Officer at SOFTSWISS, shares: “Hungry for Success isn’t just a campaign – it’s our mindset. It captures who we are as a brand: ambitious, brave, and determined to lead. Winning at the SiGMA Central Europe Awards proves that when creativity meets clarity and conviction, it resonates and delivers real results.”

Earlier in 2025, the company received the Best Marketing Campaign award for its ‘Cheers to 15 Years’ anniversary concept at SiGMA Africa. Later in the year, SOFTSWISS earned double recognition at the EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards. The team was named Marketing Team of the Year for its creative use of data and technology, while Valentina Bagniya, CMO at SOFTSWISS, was honoured as B2B Marketer of the Year for transforming the company’s marketing function into a global brand powerhouse.

Expanding its influence, SOFTSWISS has released the 2026 iGaming Trends Report, the fourth edition of its annual data-driven study. The ebook provides fresh insights into the industry’s future for operators, suppliers, and industry stakeholders. Visitors of the SiGMA Central Europe Summit can learn more about these trends during the 2026 iGaming Trends Marathon, which will take place on 5 November 2025, from 12:00 to 16:00, on the People, Partners & Performance Stage.

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 36,700 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Platform, and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

The post SOFTSWISS Wins Best Marketing Campaign Award in iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.