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Revealed: The emotional, social, and developmental benefits of gaming

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5 years ago

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

  • 28% of internet users play games to meet new people
  • A third of gamers say they play because they like to challenge themselves.
  • There are 20,000 gaming jobs in the UK, providing plenty of opportunity for a career in the industry
  • We spoke to three experts in the field who gave their insights into the gaming industry

There are lots of negative misconceptions about gaming, many of which are far from the truth. A new study turns stereotypes on their heads and reveals the emotional, social, and developmental benefits of gaming. Dr Rachel Kowert, Research Director of Take This – a mental health non-profit; Dr Matthew Barr, a lecturer of Game Studies at the University of Glasgow; and Noel McDermott, a psychotherapist and presenter of The Well-Being Show podcast, provide their thoughts and insights. Here are some of the highlights:

Gaming can boost mental wellbeing and help with feelings of loneliness

  • Thanks to well-crafted storylines and lifelike graphics, games are the perfect form of escapism
  • 34% of gamers identify the feeling of being immersed in a game as a key motivation to play
  • The global gaming population is likely to have increased by 4% since the outbreak of Covid-19

Especially in challenging times, activities that provide a positive distraction and allow an individual to put their worries to the back of their mind can have a beneficial impact on mental wellbeing. Gaming is an excellent example of this, offering an immersive experience that can mentally transport you to another world.

Barr says, “Video games are good at getting players into the state of optimal experience that psychologists call ‘flow’, by offering an appropriate balance of challenge versus achievement. It’s that feeling of being ‘in the zone’, where you’re totally absorbed in the task at hand, and you’re operating at the top of your game. In turn, this has a positive impact on how players feel.”

This is because the sense of reward releases feel-good hormones called dopamine that boost the player’s mood. What’s more, gaming can offer meditative benefits by fully occupying your mind with the objectives of the game.

Kowert adds that, “Gameplay can also teach skills that have long been associated with increased happiness and prolonged life satisfaction, including openness to experience, self-care, a growth mindset, solution-focused thinking, mindfulness, persistence, self-discovery, and resilience.”

Gaming can maintain and build new relationships

  • Half of gamers play with their real-life friends
  • 28% of internet users play games to meet new people
  • 1 in 3 internet users in the UK say the main reason they game is to have fun with people they know

Contrary to popular belief, gaming can be a sociable activity. Many games offer multiplayer modes or are designed to be played in teams, providing the opportunity for individuals to join forces with their existing friends or virtually meet new people – located anywhere in the world.

McDermott says, “Gaming, especially online, can provide immeasurable benefits to those who are lonely and isolated. It provides safe social contact and a place where skills can be developed. These skills can provide a much-needed boost to self-esteem.”

Research found that 60% of gamers report playing more games with social elements since the beginning of the pandemic, suggesting gaming can play a positive and pivotal role in connecting people at a time when face-to-face contact isn’t always possible.

Kowert explains, “Shared experiences, like playing games together, have been linked to increased self-esteem and a sense of belonging, as well as decreased feelings of depression, anxiety, and isolation.”

Gaming can teach life skills and cognitive abilities

  • There are 20,000 gaming jobs in the UK, providing plenty of opportunity for a career in gaming
  • Minecraft: Education Edition, for example, has applications in geography, history, engineering, and physics
  • A third of gamers say they play because they like to challenge themselves.

While gaming can provide a fun form of entertainment, it can also contribute to the player’s cognitive development. For example, many titles involve problem solving, strategy and multi-tasking, among other skills.

Kowert explains, “Games are fantastic learning tools, particularly for children, because they are so engaging. Video games are also great vehicles for sharpening cognitive skills because they provide a range of different challenges within a single space. Gameplay has been associated with the improvement of a range of cognitive skills, including:

  • improved creative thinking
  • problem solving
  • time management
  • leadership skills
  • goal setting
  • initiative taking
  • decision making
  • persistence in the face of difficult challenges.”

It’s estimated that children aged 12-15 years old spend an average of 11.6 hours a week gaming. So, with gaming being such a widely enjoyed hobby, it’s encouraging to note that it could be effectively harnessed as an educational tool to teach numerous skills and knowledge. What’s more, with the gaming industry growing year-on-year (and estimated to be worth £3.86 billion in 2020), it could also open doors for careers in the industry.

Barr explains, “We all learn new skills through practice, whether that’s learning how to play an instrument or training to play sports more proficiently. Learning from a video game is no different – you’re exercising skills all the time, whether it’s figuring out puzzles or using your communication and language skills to talk to and strategize with your fellow players.”

Gaming myths debunked

  • 52% of Brits play video games, demonstrating its popularity and prevalence in daily life
  • Gaming is the nation’s second favourite pastime, after watching TV
  • Brits spend an average of 7 hours a week gaming, which is just a third of the time spent watching TV (22.5 hrs)

Over the years, gaming has been associated with negative stereotypes and behaviours, such as laziness, violence, and isolation. There is little evidence to prove any of these correct. Instead, in many cases, gaming can be more beneficial for the player’s health, development, and social abilities than it is detrimental. In fact, with over half of Brits playing games, it’s apparent that gaming is just a part of modern life for many.

Kowert explains, “There is no evidence to suggest that playing games online has a negative impact on our ability to socialise. However, research has found that playing games with our friends online can strengthen our offline friendships and relationships.”

Another concern that often arises is the amount of time people spend gaming and whether gaming has addictive qualities. Talking on the topic, Barr explains that, “People talk about players becoming ‘addicted’ to games, without really considering what that word means, in a clinical sense. We don’t bat an eyelid when someone becomes so engrossed in a book that they sit there reading for hours on end, but somehow this sort of behaviour is perceived as problematic when it comes to games.”

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Activate the Heavyweight Experience with GR8 Tech at SBC Lisbon 2025

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55 minutes ago

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August 19, 2025

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GR8 Tech is bringing the fight to SBC Lisbon 2025 with a clear mission: Activate the Heavyweight. Building on the momentum of its Heavyweight Club, GR8 Tech will showcase how elite operators turn ambition into measurable results: through mindset, execution, and technology that wins under pressure.

“The Heavyweight Club is built on results, not rhetoric,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. “After launching it with great success, we’re bringing that momentum to SBC Lisbon 2025 too—this time with an even stronger call to action: Activate the Heavyweight. It’s where we’ll show exactly how GR8 Tech turns ambition into championship results. If you’re ready to lead from the front, we’ll be in your corner every step of the way.”

The Heavyweight Club unites leaders who build for performance, not appearances. Inspired by GR8 Tech’s partnership with Ready to Fight and the discipline and focus of Oleksandr Usyk, the Club champions resilience, clarity, and execution. It’s for operators who value outcomes over promises and expect a partner to match that intensity.

Activate the Heavyweight: What’s on Show in Lisbon

GR8 Tech will run hands-on demos across its high-performance stack, engineered for scale, speed, and profitability with geo-specific precision:

●     Hyper Turnkey — a complete, end-to-end iGaming solution designed for speed and precision. Featuring a no-code, widget-based frontend for instant UI updates, an AI-powered CRM for deep personalization, and geo-specific presets for fast, fully compliant market entry.

●     ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame — customizable, fast-to-market sportsbook that adapts to any brand and market. Launch in days, personalize deeply, and keep margins tight with AI-powered features.

●     Infinite Casino Aggregation — single-API access to a vast content portfolio with powerful promo tools and analytics for smarter monetization.

The Heavyweight Standard: Results Under Pressure

Here’s what Heavyweight performance looks like in practice:

  • Breakeven in under 12 months in Tier-2 and 3 markets with geo-specific presets that launch fast and land right.
  • +30% engagement powered by AI that identifies player preferences with 99% accuracy, driving precision personalization at scale.
  • Retention built in with advanced gamification: quests, leaderboards, and achievements that turn participation into loyalty.
  • 180,000+ in-play events traded monthly on our own tech stack, delivering depth, speed, and control to operators.
  • 96% uptime and lightning-fast load times worldwide thanks to our geo-distributed, high-performance architecture.

Don’t just watch the next era of iGaming leadership—step into the ring.

Meet GR8 Tech at booth C350 during SBC Lisbon 2025, September 16–18, and discover how to scale fast, localize smart, and compete where it’s toughest. Heavyweight results start here.

 

GR8 Tech. Platform for Champions

GR8 Tech is an award-winning provider, delivering high-performance sportsbook and iGaming solutions that empower operators to lead and win in competitive markets. Key elements of GR8 Tech’s comprehensive portfolio include the Hyper Turnkey solution, ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame,  Infinite Casino Aggregation, and Platform Acceler8 suite, featuring its proprietary affiliate management platform, Aff.Tech.

With a geo-specific approach to solutions, a focus on practical innovations, and an operator-first mindset, GR8 Tech helps its clients achieve measurable results in their target markets quickly and efficiently. Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 100 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions, including the title of the Best Sports Betting Provider in CEE by GamingTECH Awards 2025.

The post Activate the Heavyweight Experience with GR8 Tech at SBC Lisbon 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SBK and The Tenth Man launch fully AI-generated “betting without the bullshit” ad campaign

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55 minutes ago

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August 19, 2025

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SBK, the pioneering online sportsbook operator, has teamed up with The Tenth Man, a disruptive creative agency, to launch “Betting without the Bullshit”—a bold, no-nonsense, fully AI-generated 360° campaign ahead of the Premier League season. The campaign marks a category first in sports betting marketing, demonstrating the potential of AI in both creative concept and execution.

At the heart of the campaign is a stripped-back, visually arresting 20-second hero spot that cuts through the clichés, noise, and gimmicks often seen in betting ads. With a clear, confident tone, the ad showcases SBK’s “Best Price” product innovation and best odds promise—no fluff, no distractions.

Conceived, designed, and produced entirely using advanced AI tools by The Tenth Man’s creative team, the campaign is a testament to how AI can accelerate creative timelines while pushing the boundaries of originality and quality.

“At SBK, we’ve always stood for fairness, transparency, and the best odds in the market. ‘Betting without the Bullshit’ says exactly that—no gimmicks, no spin, and a subtle nod to our roots in finance,” said Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK. “Partnering with The Tenth Man on a fully AI-generated campaign allowed us to move quickly, stand out from the crowd, and launch something genuinely different for the new season.”

Ken Robertson, Founder & CEO of The Tenth Man, added:
“We wanted to show what happens when you ditch the overblown nonsense and get to the point—in both message and production. This isn’t AI for the sake of it. It’s AI used to push creative boundaries and get a bold idea into the world faster than the old rules allow.”

The campaign is now live across SBK’s digital and social platforms, with targeted placements timed to coincide with the Premier League’s kick-off, aiming to redefine how sportsbooks connect with modern audiences.

The post SBK and The Tenth Man launch fully AI-generated “betting without the bullshit” ad campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Million Games Launches Temple X: A New Jungle-Themed Crash Adventure and Follow-Up to Chicken X

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55 minutes ago

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August 19, 2025

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Million Games, the innovative game studio known for its bold and player-first creations, has announced the release of Temple X, a brand-new crash-style adventure game and the thrilling sequel to the fan-favorite Chicken X.

Set high above a misty jungle canopy, Temple X invites players to guide fearless adventurer Texas Jones across the perilous Trail of Echoes—a sky-high path of crumbling stones and rising cash rewards. With each step forward, the potential payout grows. The catch? Players can cash out at any time or risk it all for a final challenge: the Wheel of Echoes—a weathered treasure wheel that randomly boosts or reduces the total reward.

Game Features:

  • Crash mechanics reimagined with a thrilling jungle adventure setting

  • Three trail difficulty levels with rising multipliers: Explorer, Adventurer, and Legend

  • Treasure Wheel finale offering random mystery cash outcomes

  • 96.50% RTP and a maximum win of 10,000x

“With Temple X, we wanted to build on everything players loved about Chicken X — the excitement, the simplicity, the decision-making — but raise the stakes even further,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO at Million Games. “The addition of the Treasure Wheel was our way of making the ending more engaging and unpredictable. Players who reach it face one last, thrilling decision — spin for a potentially bigger prize or risk losing what they’ve collected. It’s an extra layer of excitement at the end of an already suspenseful game.”

Temple X is now live and available for integration through Million Games’ platform and partner network.

The post Million Games Launches Temple X: A New Jungle-Themed Crash Adventure and Follow-Up to Chicken X appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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