THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SPENDING BEHAVIOR IN VIRTUAL GAMBLING ADDICTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64734/bjss.2-1-03Keywords:
virtual gambling, spending behavior, gambling disorder, behavioral addiction, platform designAbstract
The rapid growth of online gambling platforms over the past decade has made it necessary to re-examine the psychological foundations of spending behavior. This review addresses how virtual gambling environments, including betting websites, virtual slot machines, live casino applications, sports betting platforms, and gambling-like in-game mechanics (loot boxes), shape addictive spending behavior, drawing on current literature (39 sources published between 2013 and 2026). Building on the person-product-environment triad traditionally used in gambling research, the study discusses how design elements specific to virtual environments reshape this triad. Findings show that chasing losses and the realization effect, the illusion of control, habit formation, the sense of immersion created by audiovisual cues, and behavioral-economics-based elements of platform and product design systematically influence spending decisions. In addition, the specific vulnerabilities of at-risk groups, such as young men, university students, women, and youth exposed to in-game micro-payment systems (loot boxes), as well as the psychiatric comorbidity of gambling disorder and its association with suicide risk, are discussed. Historical continuity is also addressed, summarizing the evolution of gambling from its institutionalized forms to digital and mobile platforms. The final section evaluates prevention strategies, online cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches, and the methodological limitations of the field, offering recommendations for future research.
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