Latest News

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

Published

4 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.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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

Latest News

Continent 8 leads Sportingtech’s Nutanix cloud migration and cost-efficient virtualisation initiatives

Published

20 hours ago

May 8, 2025

George Miller

continent-8-leads-sportingtech’s-nutanix-cloud-migration-and-cost-efficient-virtualisation-initiatives

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Continent 8 designed, planned and executed full-service VMware-to-Nutanix migration effort, helping Sportingtech avert 42% increase in virtualisation costs

Continent 8 Technologies, the leading provider of global managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity solutions to the iGaming and online sports betting industry, is pleased to announce an expanded partnership with multi-award-winning global betting and gaming provider, Sportingtech. In a strategic collaboration to optimise its virtualisation environment, Sportingtech entrusted Continent 8 to successfully oversee and implement their VMware-to-Nutanix cloud migration initiatives.

In the wake of Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, Sportingtech encountered an unexpected increase in costs, rising by as much as 42% due to licensing changes. This development significantly impacted the cost structure of their VMware-based virtualised enterprise private cloud architecture. To mitigate against these cost fluctuations, Sportingtech chose Continent 8, a Nutanix Authorised Service Provider and their current cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity services partner, to provide professional and managed services for a VMware-to-Nutanix migration.

Continent 8 executed a comprehensive assessment, prioritisation plan and migration journey of hundreds of virtual appliances. The significant efforts led by Continent 8, in close collaboration with Sportingtech, ensured no disruptions in operations or to users and were completed well within the originally anticipated target date. As a result, Sportingtech now benefits from a more predictable, manageable and cost-efficient virtualisation platform and environment.

Michael Jack, Chief Technology Officer at Sportingtech, said: “We are always looking for ways to enhance the solution we build for our customers and to keep costs down. Working with Continent 8, who constantly push to provide efficiencies, cost reductions and value-added expertise, made good sense to us. They continue to be a valued partner and managed to deliver the project on time with no service interruption for us or our customers, which is critical.”

Justin Cosnett, Chief Product Officer at Continent 8, said: “Continent 8 is able to use its experience with VMware, Nutanix, private and public clouds to provide professional as well as managed services to customers, enabling them to focus on core revenue-generating operations. Being able to demonstrate such a significant saving and ROI will be of interest to many enterprises in today’s market.

“It’s thanks to the experienced and highly qualified project and cloud engineering staff at Continent 8 that we were able to successfully complete this project, while earning Sportingtech’s trust to manage their critical operational infrastructure.”

The post Continent 8 leads Sportingtech’s Nutanix cloud migration and cost-efficient virtualisation initiatives appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Cryptocurrency

CryptoWins Supercharges Its Casino with 750+ New Games from 7 Cutting-Edge Providers

Published

20 hours ago

May 8, 2025

George Miller

cryptowins-supercharges-its-casino-with-750+-new-games-from-7-cutting-edge-providers

Reading Time: 2 minutes

More variety, more flavor, more depth — this is the boldest evolution yet for crypto gaming fans

CryptoWins, the go-to crypto-powered online casino, is making a power move this May. CryptoWins officially launches 750+ brand-new games from seven igaming providers, boosting its total game library to a whopping 1,200+ titles — and delivering a content lineup that crypto casino players can’t afford to miss.

To celebrate this epic launch, players can enjoy a 45% match deposit bonus on all slots from the new providers — available now through May 18.

Shortly after CryptoWins turned 1, and already home to fan favorites from Felix Gaming, Rival, Evoplay, and Slotland Entertainment, CryptoWins is now unlocking fresh adrenaline with titles from:

Eurasian Gaming – A leader in slots, fishing games, and bingo hybrids across Asia and Europe, known for Lady Hawk and Chilli Hunter Bingo.
Funky Games – Widely recognized in Southeast Asian markets, delivering fast-paced, arcade-style titles and culturally rich slots like Feng Shen. A standout title The Wild Protectors brings Journey to the West to life with iconic characters, wild transformations, and immersive story-driven gameplay.
ZeusPlay – European-crafted classics with strong math models. Look out for Amun’s Book and Arabian Dream.
Tada Gaming – Multiplayer arcade games like Crazy Hunter and Fortune Gems are primed for the Gen Z crowd.
FunTa Gaming – Culturally inspired, mobile-first games like Super Ace are on the rise.
Apollo Play – Bringing niche appeal with cosmic and retro slots.
1Spin4Win – A fresh face offering “Book of” style and fruit slots for fans of the classics.

“This is one of the biggest expansions in CryptoWins history,” said Michael Hilary, Manager at CryptoWins. “We’re not just adding games — we’re adding variety, cultural flavor, and genre depth. Whether you’re here for multiplayer games, arcade shooters, or hybrid bingo, we’ve got your next obsession ready to play.”

From mystical fantasy adventures in Lady Hawk to the wild desert thrills of Arabian Dream, CryptoWins is levelling up the crypto gaming experience with a curated mix of established bangers and underground gems.

Crypto casino players can dive in from May 8 with special bonuses, seamless crypto deposits, and mobile-first gameplay across the board. The new era of CryptoWins is here!

NEW SLOTS BONUSES
Bonuses Valid May 8-18

45% MATCH BONUS
* On deposits $30-150
* Wagering Req: 47x
* Redeem Count 8x
* No Max Cashout
* Available on Games by 7 new providers
* Bonus Code: NEWSLOT

77% MATCH BONUS
* On deposits $90-600, 44% on deposits $40-89, 33% on deposits $25-39
* Wagering Req: 39x
* Redeem Count 3x/day
* No Max Cashout
* Available on Games by Slotland Entertainment
* Bonus Code: MORESLOT

The post CryptoWins Supercharges Its Casino with 750+ New Games from 7 Cutting-Edge Providers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Kaizen Gaming launches “The Playmakers: Commercial Talent Programme” to shape tomorrow’s GameTech leaders

Published

21 hours ago

May 8, 2025

George Miller

kaizen-gaming-launches-“the-playmakers:-commercial-talent-programme”-to-shape-tomorrow’s-gametech-leaders

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ambitious candidates invited to apply for this fast track, international programme, offering accelerated learning and full commercial exposure globally

Kaizen Gaming, one of the world’s biggest GameTech companies and owner of the Betano online sports betting and gaming brand, is excited to announce the launch of “The Playmakers: Commercial Talent Programme”. The Programme offers a fast-track development path, designed to prepare the next generation of professionals who will lead and shape the future of the online gaming industry.

Throughout the programme, the Playmakers will accelerate their careers by working on real-world projects across functions such as Marketing, CRM, and Commercial. Participants will begin their 24-month journey at Kaizen Gaming’s HQ in Athens, Greece, where they will be primarily based. They will also have the opportunity to undertake up to two international assignments in countries where Betano operates in Europe and South America – such as Portugal, Brazil and Argentina – to gain hands-on global experience.

Structured training, ongoing development, and dedicated mentoring from Kaizen Gaming’s senior Commercial leaders will further enrich the participants’ experience and growth.

Who is Kaizen Gaming looking for?

Candidates should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, Economics, or a related field from a recognised University, along with one to three years of relevant work experience or high-impact internships. A Master’s degree or MBA is a plus.

Fluency in English is required, along with proficiency in either Spanish or Portuguese.

Kaizen Gaming is looking for citizens of the world—curious, proactive individuals who are strong problem-solvers and able to break down complex challenges into clear, logical solutions.

Applicants must also hold an EU passport and either an EU work permit or permanent residence, as the programme requires more than 6 months of work in Greece.

What’s in it for the participants?

The Playmakers will join a fast-track programme, gaining global experience and hands-on exposure to one of the most dynamic commercial departments in the online gaming industry, working for Betano, a premium digital brand.

Participants will support cross-functional projects, take ownership of business initiatives, and receive mentoring from senior leaders. With geographical mobility, they’ll gain international experience and have personalised development opportunities to kick-start their growth into future commercial leaders.

Julio Iglesias Hernando, Chief Commercial Officer, Kaizen Gaming, said: “As one of the world’s leading companies in GameTech, we are always on the lookout for exceptional talent to shape our future. Our fast-track global talent programme offers a unique opportunity to explore and experience the business through one of the most dynamic commercial departments in the industry. Working alongside senior leaders in an international environment, and contributing to the growth of a globally recognised sports brand like Betano, is an opportunity like no other. If you are ready to relocate to Athens, Greece, and from there on have the ability to explore and further grow your skills in more international markets, just apply today”.

Kick-start your career with a global leader in GameTech. Your Future. Your Game.

The post Kaizen Gaming launches “The Playmakers: Commercial Talent Programme” to shape tomorrow’s GameTech leaders appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.