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Revealed: The emotional, social, and developmental benefits of gaming
- 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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Movers and Shakers – Beyond integration: Why system interoperability is the real game changer
“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.
Dominic Le Garsmeur (CPO) at Fincore, says integrations without a clear interoperability strategy add technical and operational debt, hampering future growth.
System integrations are hugely important for any online sportsbook or casino, adding capabilities and features to drive growth. But integrating without considering and optimising interoperability can do more harm than good by adding technical and operational debt to the business and ultimately hitting growth.
Integrating without interoperability pushes information from one system to another, but the connection itself has no intelligence. It’s a mechanical link, and the systems remain fundamentally separate, each operating with its own distinct rules. Any real understanding, like why that data was sent or what other processes it should trigger, is lost, creating data silos that are technically connected but strategically disconnected.
System interoperability provides the intelligence the connection lacks, establishing a shared operational model for the platform so all systems can act in concert. Most importantly, it creates a future-proof foundation, allowing new capabilities and features to be added with agility and confidence, turning the platform into an engine for innovation rather than a source of technical debt.
Before looking at why interoperability is more powerful than integration, and how companies can solve it, it’s important to understand how disconnects between platforms and systems occur in the first place.
Why does disconnection happen?
Operators acquire their tech stacks in different ways, but usually through a combination of building, inheriting legacy tech, acquisition and third-party providers. This often leads to platform and system silos with little to no compatibility between them.
Ultimately, disconnected systems drag down delivery and without interoperability, companies waste time reconciling platforms and tech rather than advancing forward.
Interoperability is more powerful than integration
Integration often means linking systems at a basic level, but interoperability ensures that data, logic and workflows are aligned and extensible.
It’s critical to have a strategic data layer and shared data structures that enables standardising of data representations, aligning systems at the logic level, not just the interface, and building an architecture designed to unify and extend across platforms.
In complex industries such as gaming, where tech plays such an important role in the user experience and the trust consumers have in brands, system interoperability is the only way to scale with control. In short, integration links, interoperability empowers.
Why interoperability is such a challenge in the gaming industry
Each integration is unique. Why? Because the combination of legacy systems, niche vendors and varying regulations in markets across the world means there is no blueprint for operators to follow.
Remember, most operator platforms are now decades old and were not built with modularity or openness in mind. And even those developing new platforms and systems from scratch often lack the in-house capability to design for interoperability from the get-go.
The risk of not achieving interoperability
When systems don’t interoperate, things start to fall apart. For example, delivery can grind to a halt, with every new feature launch or market entry becoming a grind. There are compliance risks, too, especially when it comes to fractured data and an increased risk of errors and audit gaps.
Then, of course, there is the poor player experience that will be provided. This could be anything from glitchy games to failed deposits and even the wrong marketing communications being sent to the wrong player cohorts.
It also impacts an operator’s ability to develop and innovate, as IT and tech become reactive rather than proactive. And in such a competitive market, this can see a brand quickly fall behind the curve.
How to solve the interoperability conundrum
Ensuring interoperability is a complex and comprehensive undertaking, but there are some high-level things operators can do.
This starts with standardising critical data flows and logic, not just the interface. Remember, a single view of data is what ensures all the platforms, systems and networks communicate with each other in the same language.
Operators should also design for change, as architecture must support long-term growth and plug-and-play modularity. In most cases, it’s best to invest in strategic partners, not just tools.
How strategic partners can help
Partners such as Fincore can provide the strategic clarity operators need, defining what interoperability looks like for them and based on their business goals. We also bring execution muscle – we don’t just design it, we build it.
The right partner also brings compliance confidence. Companies such as Fincore are highly experienced when it comes to interoperability, and everything we do stands up to regulatory scrutiny.
This can be seen in our proven track record for delivering interoperability for everything from complex migrations to global-scale game roll-outs.
A real-world example of interoperability
Fincore worked with a US-based gaming services provider whose legacy systems across its land-based venues had created silos in payments, loyalty and in-resort experiences.
The solution we proposed saw us design and deliver a digital wallet that became the unified digital layer across the physical properties. We also integrated deeply with multiple rigid legacy systems to provide secure and compliant interoperability at scale.
The result? We delivered on time, unlocked a new digital product line and created a long-term tech foundation for the company to continue to build on.
When it comes to integrations, you can always wire systems together, but if you don’t do it in the right way, you get chaos. Interoperability is about creating order within platforms and systems, which in turn allows for unlimited scaling and growth.
And that’s why interoperability is the real game-changer.
The post Movers and Shakers – Beyond integration: Why system interoperability is the real game changer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
London fintech Yaspa, an award-winning provider of real-time payment, account verification and intelligence solutions for the iGaming industry, has announced its partnership with VIALET, the European-licensed electronic money institution. The collaboration significantly enhances Yaspa’s payment ecosystem, providing iGaming operators and platforms across the UK and Europe with expanded access to instant, multi-currency payment solutions.
The partnership builds on VIALET’s deep experience as a European fintech, offering specialised business accounts and a full suite of payment services designed for digital businesses. For Yaspa’s customers – particularly in the high-growth iGaming sector – these accounts provide a secure, compliant way to hold and manage funds, including those deposited and withdrawn through Yaspa’s instant bank payment solutions.
The result is a powerful, integrated offering that is quickly becoming a preferred choice for operators seeking seamless, multi-currency support for real-time transactions. By combining instant pay-ins and payouts with robust business banking infrastructure, the collaboration delivers a streamlined, scalable solution for managing money across the UK and Europe.
‘A single, powerful platform’
Yaspa CEO James Neville said: “Our mission at Yaspa is to provide iGaming businesses with a single, powerful platform to manage their payments intelligently.
“Partnering with VIALET not only expands our instant payment capabilities across Europe, but also reinforces our commitment to building a resilient, multi-partner ecosystem that offers our clients unparalleled choice and reliability.”
Ioannis Chatziathanasiou, Chief Business Development Officer from VIALET, said: “At VIALET, we are committed to delivering secure, fast, and scalable payment solutions tailored to the needs of digital-first industries. Partnering with Yaspa allows us to extend our reach and offer even greater value to merchants across Europe who demand flexibility, intelligence, and speed in their payment infrastructure.”
Yaspa’s instant bank payments are available across the UK and Europe, ready to integrate seamlessly into the payment systems of both current and future VIALET account holders who want to provide a real-time payment option that is quick to implement and simple for players to use.
The post Yaspa and VIALET partner to bolster pan-European payments for iGaming clients appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Amusnet Sponsors the Most Traded NFT Collection at the Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 2025
Amusnet has been announced as the official sponsor of the Most Traded NFT Collection at the Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 2025. Renowned for its commitment to immersive gaming experiences, Amusnet is supporting this distinctive category with a 10,000 FTN prize pool, further reinforcing its dedication to creativity and innovation in the iGaming sector.
Honouring Excellence in NFT Marketplace
The Most Traded NFT Collection category celebrates the collections that have made the biggest impact in the NFT marketplace. From eye-catching designs to real-world utility, these standout projects have captured the attention of traders and collectors alike. With Amusnet’s support, the awards will recognise the visionaries behind the most traded collections shaping the future of digital ownership.
Yerevan at the Centre of Innovation
From 8–11 July 2025, Yerevan will become the focal point of the iGaming world as it hosts Harmony Meetup 7 featuring Fasttoken alongside the Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards. This four-day event will bring together global leaders, creatives, and innovators to celebrate excellence, share insights, and explore the technologies shaping the next chapter of digital entertainment.
Amusnet and BetConstruct: A Vision-Aligned Partnership
The partnership between Amusnet and BetConstruct is rooted in a shared vision of driving innovation and delivering world-class player experiences. Together, the two companies are redefining the boundaries of the iGaming industry, transforming ambitious ideas into impactful, forward-thinking solutions. Their collaboration is more than a strategic alliance, it is a joint commitment to shaping the future of iGaming.
With a focus on innovation, collaboration and industry recognition, the event promises to deliver an unforgettable experience in the heart of Armenia.
The post Amusnet Sponsors the Most Traded NFT Collection at the Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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