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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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Ines Ledo, BetBrothers: “Our Content Philosophy Is Built on Quality, Value, and Responsibility”

We sat down with Ines Ledo, Content Lead at BetBrothers.es, to discuss the core principles behind BetBrothers’ content strategy, and what it takes to create a trusted resource for the Spanish betting community.
Ines, please share with us how you first became involved in the sports betting industry, and what led you to your current role as Content Lead at BetBrothers.es?
I started more than five years ago as a content writer, focusing on online casinos and sports betting. From the beginning, I really enjoyed the industry, and over time, I started managing content and leading a team of writers in another top affiliate project in Spain. That experience gave me a wider understanding of how the industry works, and especially, how important content is in the iGaming world. Exceptional content is a force driving engagement and market differentiation.
Now, as a Content Lead at BetBrothers, my mission is to channel all that experience into an ambitious vision. Here, we are aiming to create the most trusted resource for the Spanish betting community. This means going beyond surface-level information and entertainment. Our content is built around three key pillars — quality, value, and responsibility. It is created to help our users enjoy sports betting as a safe and fun form of entertainment.
Can you tell us about your core content philosophy and how it differentiates BetBrothers.es from other affiliates in Spain?
Over the years, I’ve seen how content has become less personal. Today, many articles sound the same, like they’re made in a factory, without real experiences or useful information for the user.
At BetBrothers, we want to do the opposite. We believe in authentic content, written by real people who test betting sites and online casinos. They don’t just look around. They deposit, they play, they interact with customer support, they research the terms and conditions, and then they compare these experiences, sharing their personal perspectives.
We’re user-first, always. Our philosophy is to provide real value to the user with our content, with responsibility as a basis, as we aim to contribute to creating a safer and more enjoyable betting environment for our readers. That commitment to honesty, authenticity and responsible betting is what makes us different.
How do you balance creating evergreen content (like guides) with timely, event-driven betting tips, especially considering the dynamic Spanish sports calendar?
Balancing evergreen and timely content is indeed a basis of our strategy. We do it through good planning and efficient team management.
On one hand, we have stable content like operator reviews and how-to guides on betting strategies — this is the foundation of the project. Such content educates users, provides lasting value, and forms the backbone of our search engine presence.
On the other hand, we produce daily betting tips from our sports experts. These bring dynamic elements to our content and keep users engaged on a daily basis. Our experts have truckloads of experience, some of them are sports analysts with deep statistical knowledge of specific leagues. So for us it’s also an opportunity to showcase our analytical capabilities.
Both types of content are equally important: one provides lasting value, the other keeps the user connected and engaged day by day.
Many affiliates diversify traffic sources. Beyond organic search, what other marketing channels are you exploring for BetBrothers.es?
Organic traffic, born from deep and useful content we provide, is definitely very valuable both for us and our partners. It’s the validation of value we deliver to users searching for information. However, we are actively expanding our reach.
Social media is already a key element of our multi-channel strategy. It’s a great way to build presence, engage in meaningful conversations with the users, and develop a community around our products.
We believe video content will become more and more important in the future too. It allows for richer, more engaging storytelling, and helps us build deeper connections with our audience. Our philosophy is simple: meet users where they are, and connect with them beyond Google.
From your perspective, how has player behavior in the Spanish sports betting market evolved over the past few years, and how is BetBrothers.es adapting its content to meet these changing needs?
Today’s users are much more demanding, that’s for sure. They have more information, they compare everything available to them, and they look for real product value — both in the bookmakers and in the websites they visit. At BetBrothers.es, we thrive in this environment.
We don’t just repeat what everyone else says or does. Instead, we focus on creating useful content, replying to the questions readers may have, explaining complex features in a clear and easy way, test the products and give an opinion based on real experience.
Also, we put a big emphasis on responsible gambling by offering practical advice. We do that, as we believe this is an essential part of the value we should provide to the betting community.
Looking ahead, what are the key strategic priorities for BetBrothers.es in the next 12-18 months to continue its growth and strengthen its position in the Spanish market?
For the next 12-18 months, our goal is to find the perfect balance between three non-negotiable pillars: useful and high-quality content, a user experience adapted to today’s standards — especially on mobile — and a strong focus on safe and responsible gambling.
Our ultimate aim is for every BetBrothers visitor to instantly feel that they are at the most trusted sports betting hub in Spain. A place where they’ll find clear, honest and helpful information to make informed and enjoyable betting decisions.
The post Ines Ledo, BetBrothers: “Our Content Philosophy Is Built on Quality, Value, and Responsibility” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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About 59% of Germans Aged 6-69 Play Video Games

About 59% of people aged 6 to 69 in Germany play video games. Overall, the number of players in the country has risen significantly in the last several years. Across all age groups, some 37.5 million Germans – more than ever before – play video games on consoles, PCs and smartphones. This represents an increase of around 9% in the number of players since 2020. These are the new figures released by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by YouGov.
The development among players over 60 is especially dynamic, with this group having grown from 6.4 to 7.7 million in just 12 months. The growth in the proportion of older gamers is partly due to the fact that many gamers have been playing games for decades. On the other hand, more and more older people are discovering the joy of video games. Thus the trend of recent years continues, with the average age of German players also surpassing 39 for the first time – rising from 38.2 in 2023 to 39.5 in 2024. In total, 8 in 10 players in Germany (79%) are over 18 years old. With regard to the gender of players in Germany, the distribution has remained balanced in the last several years, at around 48% women and 52% men.
“Games fascinate millions of people in Germany – young and old, women and men. The majority of Germans have been playing games for a long time and the number is increasing. The steadily rising average age of gamers is also exciting: we are fast approaching the age of 40. This makes clear what still surprises many people: whether they are 17 or 70, games inspire people of all ages and the proportion of older players is growing particularly strongly,” said Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – The German Games Industry Association.
After attaining unprecedented heights in recent years, the German games market saw a dip in its growth trajectory in 2024. Last year, sales revenue from games, gaming hardware and online gaming services in Germany totalled 9.4 billion euros – a 6% drop from the year before. This downturn was especially pronounced in purchases of games for PCs, consoles and smartphones (−17%, to 921 million euros), as well as in hardware purchases (−10%, to 2.9 billion euros). Running counter to the overall market trend, revenue from online gaming services saw a double-digit increase, rising 12% from the level of 2023, to 965 million euros.
The post About 59% of Germans Aged 6-69 Play Video Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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TaDa Gaming Celebrates GiftCode’s Successful First Year Since Launch

TaDa Gaming celebrates GiftCode’s successful first year since launch. Applicable to both slots and TaDa’s unique fishing-shooting games, GiftCode offers immediate rewards which can be effortlessly tailored and adapted to any operator requirement or marketing campaign.
Hitting its first anniversary, a minimum of 1,000,000 GiftCodes are now issued monthly through 300+ streamers with 100% take up. This strong creator eco-system enables codes to be delivered across media and platforms with tournaments, introductory rewards and churned player campaigns leading the way for operator success through powerful marketing alongside player rewards.
An uplift of Daily Active Users by a minimum of 18% and a 15% increase in engagement and player acquisition levels has confirmed that GiftCode is the simple and highly effective gamification tool the industry was lacking.
The 2024 initial test run in Brazil saw 100 streamers receive 500,000 GiftCode links. An instant redemption rate of 95+% and new player sign up increasing by more than 30,000 per month confirmed TaDa’s research and development and gave operators confidence to incorporate GiftCode to their offering.
Now, with the addition of personalised codes for player segmentation, regionally specific influencer packs and multi-brand and aggregator deployment, few other gamification tools can offer such consistently high impact and measurable results, meaning this is a very happy anniversary for TaDa.
Sean Liu, Director of Product Management at TaDa Gaming, said: “GiftCode’s inherent simplicity is the key to its success. It does what it is supposed to do and does it fantastically well for both operators and players. Our new enhancements make GiftCode even more engaging, securing its future as our go-to gamification tool.”
The post TaDa Gaming Celebrates GiftCode’s Successful First Year Since Launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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