Madison Genthry 
When you log onto an online casino, you’re searching for risk, almost by definition. Risk, and the assessment of it, forms a central part of our psychology, and of our experience as human beings. Good platforms like Mr Q casino are able to leverage this, and to thereby create engaging games that balance excitement with responsibility.
If you’re going to enjoy a healthy relationship with these services, then you’ll want to form at least a vague understanding of what’s going on in your own brain. Let’s take a look at how a good online gambling service interacts with your psychology.
The Thrill of Uncertainty and Reward
The brain tends to react to uncertainty with excitement. We might trace this back to our evolutionary heritage. If a hunter-gatherer can see that every branch on a tree is packed with fruit, then they might relax; if there are just a few fruit, then they might start to search for more of them.
A game might create artificial scarcity at random intervals and create near-miss scenarios, which persuade us to seek reward, even though they don’t dispense any in the moment.
Cognitive Biases and Risk Perception
Human beings are very good at assessing risks in certain kinds of environment – specifically, those that approximate natural conditions. But in a digital world that’s based on numbers and statistics, our intuitions can often mislead us. We might take risks that seem irrational. Consider the gambler’s fallacy, which sees us overestimate the likelihood of a coin toss coming up tails after a streak of heads.
Games designers and casino operators can exploit this, and thereby keep us engaged more deeply.
Neurological Drivers of Risk-Taking
When a player perceives risk and uncertainty, a specific section of the brain begins to light up. This section is called the amygdala. It’s there to make risk feel exciting. The neurotransmitter dopamine is also worthy of attention. It’s there to create satisfaction, and (crucially) reinforce the behaviours that brought the feeling about.
The pairing of excitement and satisfaction has a greater bearing on our tolerance for risk than any sober, rational assessment of the odds. It’s no wonder, then, that the best games tend to speak to these parts of the brain.
Emotional States and Risky Behaviour
Our state of mind can have a large bearing on our tolerance for risk. When we’re angry or frustrated, we might be more prone to chasing losses. When we’re happy, we might feel an unwarranted sense of confidence that might trip us up.
In order to get the best from any gaming situation, it’s worth being aware of these emotions, and checking yourself before you start betting. Giving yourself just a few moments to reconsider might allow your higher reasoning faculties to kick in!
