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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

2026 World Cup

Bet St George survey: 40% of England fans tip World Cup win

Published

20 minutes ago

June 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

bet-st-george-survey:-40%-of-england-fans-tip-world-cup-win

Bet St George has published new research claiming four in ten England fans expect the Three Lions to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The betting brand said the poll of 1,000 England sports fans was conducted between 15 and 18 May 2026, with the tournament set to start on Thursday.

In the survey, 40% of respondents said they expect England to lift the trophy in North America this summer. Optimism is highest among 25 to 34 year olds, where 67% backed England to win.

The research also points to a broader national narrative around the team. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of fans agreed that the England team brings the nation together. Separately, 26% said a World Cup win would rank among their top three most important life events, rising to 31% among men.

Regionally, Bet St George said England sports fans living in Scotland were the most confident cohort in the dataset, with 77% backing England to win and 96% agreeing the team brings the nation together. Greater London also skewed optimistic (53% backing England; 36% placing a win among their most important life events), while Yorkshire and the Humber was more cautious (31% backing England; 19% ranking a win as a top life moment).

Andre Au, Marketing Director at Bet St George, said: “England has one of the most passionate sporting audiences in the world, but for a long time, it was the only nation in the UK without a sportsbook built around its own identity.

“We created Bet St George because supporting England is different. World Cup fever hits massively once the squad is announced. For England, it is the expectation. It’s all about the previous hurt, penalty shoot-outs, the build-up, the predictions, and the debates with your mates. The whole nation feels that this tournament might finally be the one.”

The post Bet St George survey: 40% of England fans tip World Cup win appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

act

Advanced Compliance Technology Launches AI-driven Compliance and Integrity Platform

Published

20 minutes ago

June 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

advanced-compliance-technology-launches-ai-driven-compliance-and-integrity-platform

Advanced Compliance Technology (ACT), an independent provider of geolocation, sports integrity and risk solutions for the global regulated betting and gaming industry, has launched its next-generation AI and machine learning-powered Compliance and Integrity Platform.

The new platform brings together geolocation, identity verification, fraud detection, behavioural monitoring and sports integrity checks into a single, real-time solution.

The self-optimising platform leverages advanced AI and machine learning (ML) models to process and analyse 100,000s of data points related to athletes, leagues, officials, teams, betting markets, bookmakers, player activity, transactional behaviour and geolocation intelligence.

Advanced ML models also monitor player performance, injuries and behavioural patterns to identify anomalies, suspicious activity, integrity risks and emerging compliance threats as they develop.

When an alert is raised, ACT’s team of compliance, fraud and integrity specialists are on hand to support customers with expert judgements, providing even greater confidence through human-in-the-loop oversight.

By bringing these traditionally siloed compliance disciplines together, ACT’s new dashboard provides operators, regulators and sport governing bodies with a unified view of risk across the entire player and betting lifecycle, facilitating faster, more informed decisions based on live data and risk analysis.

Mike Venner, Co-Founder and Director at Advanced Compliance Technology, said: “Traditional compliance systems were built in silos. ACT is building the next-generation oversight platform, bringing geolocation, KYC, AML, fraud detection, behavioural monitoring, and sports integrity together in a single AI and machine learning-powered ecosystem.

“By transforming fragmented data into connected intelligence, ACT identifies risks and patterns at a scale no human team could achieve alone. Combined with decades of compliance, fraud, and integrity expertise, our platform ensures that advanced technology is reinforced by experienced human oversight, delivering smarter decisions, stronger enforcement, and more effective compliance outcomes.”

The post Advanced Compliance Technology Launches AI-driven Compliance and Integrity Platform appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alice Carraro

REEVO Announces New Partnership with Amigo Gaming

Published

20 minutes ago

June 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

reevo-announces-new-partnership-with-amigo-gaming

REEVO has announced a new partnership with Amigo Gaming, a Barcelona-based slot provider recognised for delivering immersive and high-performing gaming experiences across international markets. This collaboration further strengthens REEVO’s aggregation ecosystem, expanding its portfolio with a wide range of engaging content designed to drive player retention and operator growth.

Through this partnership, Amigo Gaming’s portfolio is now available on the REEVO aggregation platform, providing operators seamless access to more than 150 certified titles through a single and efficient integration. The addition of Amigo Gaming reinforces REEVO’s commitment to continuously expanding its platform with diverse, engaging, and globally proven content.

For REEVO, this partnership reflects its ongoing strategy to collaborate with innovative and fast-growing studios that enhance the value and performance of its aggregation platform.

Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with Amigo Gaming is an exciting step forward for REEVO as we continue to strengthen our aggregation platform with engaging and high-performing content. Amigo Gaming has built a strong portfolio with a clear focus on player experience, creativity, and consistency, which aligns perfectly with our vision at REEVO. We are focused on building an ecosystem that helps operators stand out, and this partnership adds even more depth and variety to the content available through our platform.”

Alice Carraro, Senior Account Manager at Amigo Gaming, said: “At the end of the day, a great game is only as good as the platform hosting it, and that’s why working with REEVO feels so right. We pour a lot of energy into making our slots distinct, reliable, and genuinely fun to play, but REEVO has the seamless network needed to get them in front of the right audience. It’s the perfect match: we bring the engaging content players love, and they provide the smooth, hassle-free integration that operators appreciate. We’re really excited to grow together.”

The post REEVO Announces New Partnership with Amigo Gaming appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.