You may be gambling, and not even know it.
How could this be?
Easy. Take a look at the games you’re playing:
Loot boxes, gachas, wheels, games these days are STACKED with gambling mechanics, especially when you’re gaming on your phone. They release dopamine, a feel good chemical, that causes you to want to spend more and more money.
The first step is recognizing gambling in the first place. A good rule of thumb is, ask yourself:
Do I need to spend money to be good at this game?
Every game has a different name for this stuff. “Loot boxes,” “wishes,” “magic wheels,” these are all secretly gambling.
Remember: Paying for a character, outfit, or weapon is normal. Paying for the chance to win is gambling.
#1 Gambler's Fallacy:
Y’know when you’re playing a game and you’ve been losing for a while, so you’re due for a win? You’re not.
Companies use this line of thinking to keep you hooked.
Their goal is to keep you spending money, not playing the actual game.
#2 Sunk-Cost Fallacy:
Ever spent a lot of money on something and then thought “it’s too late to turn back now”?
Remember: It is never too late to stop.
Even if you only have $5 left, $5 is more than $0. And trust me, they want that $5. The result of all this is you never get better at the game. You just lose money.
#3 Illusion of Control:
Ever thought “well If I spin this wheel juuuuuust right I can land on the space I want!”
Sorry bucko, no you won’t.
Ever spun a prize wheel and almost won, only to lose at the last second?
Your next thought is probably “oh I was so close, I’m bound to get it next time.”
These games are designed to take your money, but they lose when you walk away.
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