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Emotions test reveals: The online purchases making us 67% happier!
- 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
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Coolbet switches to an automated player onboarding flow with iDenfy’s ID verification software

The implementation will help Coolbet reduce multi-accounting, bonus abuse, and other illicit practices that challenge the iGaming platform’s security
iDenfy, a leading identity verification and fraud prevention company, has announced a new partnership with Coolbet, the award-winning B2C company, known for its innovative online gaming platform. This collaboration enables Coolbet to integrate iDenfy’s automated identity and address verification services, enhance its compliance operations, and reduce fraud risks in the clients’ onboarding process across its global markets.
Coolbet, established in 2016 and headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia, offers a personalized entertainment experience across various areas, such as online casino games, sports betting, and online poker. The company operates under Estonian, Swedish, and Maltese gaming licenses and serves over 1.3 million users across ten markets, including Canada, Sweden, and Chile. With a strong focus on transparency and fair play, Coolbet has built its reputation on delivering exceptional customer care and utilizing in-house technology. However, managing the manual aspects of identity and address verification was proving increasingly complex and time-consuming experience as the platform grew.
According to recent industry data, identity fraud accounted for over 50% of all online fraud cases globally in 2024, highlighting the need for robust and automated verification solutions. In response to this growing threat, Coolbet’s team decided to integrate iDenfy’s identity and proof-of-address verification solution, which are both AI-powered and designed to convert more users. iDenfy’s CEO, Domantas Ciulde, explains that such a switch will immediately benefit Coolbet since its team will have more time and resources to focus on other business development tasks.
As a result, Coolbet can now automate the main KYC process while maintaining strict compliance and delivering a smooth player experience. Teams can easily set rules for acceptable documents such as utility bills, bank or credit card statements, tax documents, and other compliance-related operations, guaranteeing the platform ensures that the user’s address proof is valid and not older than three months. It is worth mentioning that iDenfy’s Know Your Customer (KYC) software also uses advanced biometric and 3D liveness detection technology, including AI-powered document scanning, which allows the ID verification solution to recognize over 3,000 document types from 200+ countries. This ensures fast, secure, and global identity verification in one seamless process.
A key differentiator in iDenfy’s offering is its results-based pricing model, where clients are only charged for successful verifications. This approach helps companies to significantly reduce verification costs without sacrificing reliability or compliance rules. Additionally, iDenfy’s intuitive KYC management dashboard interface allows Coolbet’s team to navigate and manage the verification process with ease and speed which are essential components in fast-paced gaming environments.
It’s worth mentioning that the need for robust identity verification has never been greater. According to a recent study by Juniper Research, global losses due to online fraud are projected to exceed $107 billion by 2029, with identity fraud as one of the primary drivers. In regulated industries like iGaming, where fraud and regulatory scrutiny are growing, having a reliable KYC partner is essential.
“With iDenfy, we found a partner who not only delivers a high-quality product but also supports it with fast, transparent communication from day one. Their user-friendly dashboard, high acceptance rates in our target markets, and efficient support made the integration process seamless. We were able to automate identity and address verification, improving our operational efficiency,” said Endre Nesset, the President of Coolbet.
“We’re thrilled to work with Coolbet, a company that puts transparency and player trust at the heart of its platform. Our mission is to empower businesses to grow securely, and this partnership reflects that. By combining automation with accuracy, we’re helping Coolbet to create a more efficient, fraud-resistant onboarding experience for its global audience,” said Domantas Ciulde, the CEO of iDenfy.
The post Coolbet switches to an automated player onboarding flow with iDenfy’s ID verification software appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Amusnet Strengthens European Presence with Dutch Launch on Lucky 7 Casino

With over 100 games now live on Lucky Seven Casino’s platform, Amusnet introduces a selection of its diverse portfolio of online casino games to a wider audience. The partnership marks a strategic move for the provider into the Dutch market, strengthening its presence in the region and providing local players with a premium gaming experience while driving mutual growth for both companies.
“We are excited to partner with Lucky 7 Casino as they enter the Dutch market. As a new operator, they bring fresh energy to the industry, and we are confident that our games will contribute to their success. This launch marks another step in our commitment to delivering top-tier gaming experiences in the Netherlands,” said Dimitri De Temmerman, Managing Director of BNL at Amusnet.
The partnership with Amusnet is a major step forward for Lucky 7 Casino. This partnership offers several benefits, including access to a wide range of innovative games that enrich our platform. Amusnet’s cutting-edge technology will enhance our current offering, allowing us to offer players an even more engaging and immersive experience,” commented Frank Loffeld, COO/CTO of Lucky 7 Casino.
On Lucky 7 Casino’s platform, local players can find some of Amusnet’s top-notch games such as 100 Power Hot, 20 Golden Coins, Shining Crown, 40 Bulky Fruits, Extra Crown, Cavemen and Dinosaurs, Cocktail Rush, Candy Palace, Vegas Roulette 500x, Dynamic Roulette 120x and many more.
The post Amusnet Strengthens European Presence with Dutch Launch on Lucky 7 Casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Spinomenal unveils Blazing Rhino Hold & Hit

Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has unveiled its hot new slot, Blazing Rhino Hold & Hit.
The 3×5 game is presented on golden savannah grasslands, populated with rock formations and acacia trees. A calm, sun-drenched soundscape sets the scene for wild adventure alongside beautiful beasts.
Landing three baobab tree Scatter Free Spins symbols will launch the Free Spins game. In the base game, Scatter Free Spins symbols can only appear on reels 1, 3, and 5. Three Scatter symbols give players three Free Spins and multiply the total bet by three.
Once free spins are underway, any symbol can transform into a colossus symbol (3×3), spanning the middle of the slot across reels 2 to 4. Scatter symbols (bonus or free spins) will only hit as a colossus symbol and activate the feature. A Free Spins colossus symbol grants three extra free spins and pays triple the total bet.
The Hold & Hit feature builds extra tension on the reels. Six Scatter bonus symbols will initiate the Bonus game, where the symbols that carried the players to the feature remain frozen in place. Players start with three spins and once the empty spots are filled or when the spins expire, the game concludes.
Every spin gives players a chance to populate the vacant spots and earn prizes spanning x1 – x10 multipliers of the total bet. There is also the Mini Jackpot (x25 total bet), Major Jackpot (x50 total bet), and the Mega Jackpot (x250 total bet). The counter ticks up for each win and any player who completes all 15 spots will walk off into the sunset with the Grand Jackpot – x5000 the total bet.
Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Blazing Rhino: Hold & Hit is a wild ride through the savannah, bursting with features, colossal symbols, and bountiful jackpots. We expect this to be a roaring success with players.”
The post Spinomenal unveils Blazing Rhino Hold & Hit appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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