Are Mobile-Only Players More Impulsive Than Desktop Users?

Mobile-only players and desktop users should seemingly have similar betting practices, right? Recent studies show that these two types of gamblers actually bet very differently.

In a 2023 Australian study, researchers found that players who placed bets on their mobile devices – particularly smartphones – were more likely to bet impulsively. These impulsive habits included accepting more bonuses, betting across more operators, and taking advantage of add-ons, such as bet boosts.

5 Reasons Why Mobile-Only Players Are More Impulsive Than Desktop Users

So why are mobile-only players more impulsive than desktop users when betting? The aforementioned study found five clear reasons why players were more likely to bet impulsively on their smartphones than on their desktop computers.

These reasons include convenience, push notifications, bonuses and promotions, in-app cashier options, and less betting stigma.

1. Convenience

It’s no surprise that betting on a mobile device is simply more convenient than betting on a laptop or desktop. The ability to place bets whenever, wherever is a major factor in the uptick in impulsive gambling.

2. Push Notifications

Players also report that push notifications can greatly influence them to gamble more on a smartphone than on a desktop computer.

When an online casino app sends out a push notification, the players receive this notification in real-time (usually with an alert, such as a sound or vibration).

Many push notifications are limited-time offers that the bettor must accept before a deadline. Since most of us don’t spend the time reminding ourselves of such offers in a calendar or notes app, we’re more likely to accept the offer when we receive the notification.

3. More Bonus and Promotion Options

More bonuses and promotions are offered to app users, and many online casinos and sportsbooks advertise offers that can only be redeemed in the app.

This is by design. Online gambling sites know that players are more likely to place impulsive bets on their smartphones than on their laptops. They’re also aware that players are less likely to do extensive research on odds or prices before placing bets on their mobile devices.

4. Ease of In-App Deposits

Online casino apps and sportsbooks make it very easy to deposit funds into an online betting account by smartphone.

The players in the aforementioned study reported making more deposits or higher deposits because they could more easily do so with a linked cashier method in an app (or with an even more convenient cashier option: e-wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay).

5. Less Gambling Stigma

When we gamble around other people, we’re more likely to bet less. Since there’s more privacy in betting with a smartphone, players reported that they made more impulsive bets simply because their friends or family members weren’t nearby.

Unless you live alone, you’re less likely to place impulsive bets when using a desktop computer simply because others might see you and take notice.

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