Exam season in Cambridge smells of coffee, energy Future Technology Trends
drinks and desperate plans to cram everything into the final night. But among the “classic” ways to delay studying, there’s one that stands out — online games. You sit in the library, Moodle open, yet your fingers instinctively click into Valorant or League of Legends. And suddenly, between the first page of notes and the determination to start that essay, three matches have slipped by.
Gaming has become as much a part of student routine as Pret coffee cups. It isn’t just “entertainment” — sometimes it’s a way to switch off anxious thoughts, a trap that’s hard to escape. The irony is, most people know they’re wasting precious time in that moment, but keep going anyway.
Does that mean online gambling is automatically bad? Surprisingly, the answer isn’t that simple. To understand how games fit into the rhythm of exam season, it’s worth seeing them not as “good” or “bad”, but as one of the coping rituals for constant stress. Here’s why.
Why games, though?
When deadlines loom and notes sit untouched, your brain looks for the shortest route to pleasure. Online games deliver exactly that: quick results, bright emotions, clear rules. Unlike a 200-page textbook, a game gives you victory or defeat in 15–20 minutes.
Neuroscientists explain this through the dopamine system — the brain’s “reward” mechanism. In Volkow et al., “Dopamine and Addiction” (New England Journal of Medicine, 2015) (Volkow et al. 2015), dopamine is shown to be central in driving choices that bring instant gratification. A game triggers that cycle far faster than an essay ever could.
So if you’ve ever sat down to read philosophy texts but found yourself in Dota five minutes later — and genuinely wondered how it happened — you’re far from alone. We’re all wired to chase the easiest hit of psychological “relief” because that’s simply how nature shaped us.
For some, gaming is just a pause; for others, it’s a way of postponing stress. Either way, it’s become one of the most accessible forms of procrastination today.
Balancing on a (very) thin line
Did you know games during exams can be both an enemy and a lifesaver? For many, they’re a quick way to shut out the noise and lower anxiety.
In Reinecke et al., “Gaming as a stress recovery activity” (Frontiers in Psychology, 2020) (Reinecke et al. 2020), moderate gaming is shown to stabilise mood and help recover from stressful tasks. The keyword here is moderate.
If you’ve ever found yourself unable to sleep without half an hour in The Sims, that’s not a red flag in itself. Think of it as a “switch-off” button or a nightly comfort ritual. But what if it goes further?
You plan for just half an hour, maybe an hour, and suddenly the sun is rising and you’ve got lectures or work ahead. How long can you keep that rhythm before it really starts to bite?
That fragile balance defines the whole experience. For some, games are a calming ritual; for others, a subtle trap that steals hours of revision. So how do you tell if you’ve crossed the line?
When gambling creeps in
Here’s another twist. While gaming, you don’t just meet Dota heroes or Hearthstone decks — you also meet aggressive betting ads. Pop-ups and banners promising “bonuses” and “easy wins” turn casual gaming into a door to gambling.
The difference is obvious: in one case, you risk only time and mood, in the other, real money. But in today’s world of mobile apps, those boundaries blur fast. Even when governments impose blocks (and nobody likes blocks, obviously), people find ways around them.
The same happens in gambling: some turn to casinos with no sister sites, slipping past filters without much effort. And today, it’s hardly difficult to jump on a VPN or spin up a new account.
So, bans don’t fix the issue. They just make the “forbidden fruit” seem more tempting. It’s the same mechanism as procrastination — the more you push yourself to study, the more you want to click that game.
Why “shutting it all down” doesn’t work
On the surface, the solution looks simple: remove temptation, block access to games and gambling platforms. Why dig deeper if you can just censor it, condemn it, ban it?
But reality plays out differently. In Gainsbury et al., “The Impact of Internet Gambling Restriction” (Journal of Gambling Studies, 2018) (Gainsbury et al. 2018), researchers show that strict restrictions push people onto unregulated platforms with less protection.
So, once again: bans don’t erase the urge. They just push it underground, making it a “taboo topic” that everybody is aware of, but no one discusses openly. The real challenge isn’t the platforms themselves, but how people shape their relationship with them day to day.
Where’s the “normal”?
Figuring out where “healthy” gaming ends and a problem begins isn’t straightforward. Just playing instead of revising doesn’t make you addicted. The real question is how gaming fits into your routine and what it pushes out. It all comes down to how much control you keep.
| Normal | Problem gambling |
| You play for a set time and still get revision or important tasks done | Gaming pushes out study, work, sleep, relationships and social life |
| After a couple of matches, you can get back to what you were doing | You can’t stop thinking about when you’ll play next |
| Gaming helps you take the edge off stress | Games or bets become an escape from problems |
| You spend little or nothing on in-game purchases | You start risking money impulsively in casinos or microtransactions |
| “One more level” sometimes happens, but you can stop without fuss | You lose control and slip into all-night sessions despite other deadlines |
This shows that “normal” and “problematic” aren’t divided by a hard line. They’re points on a spectrum, and where you land depends on stress, habits, and how you deal with pressure.
The real issue isn’t whether you play, but whether you’re steering the ship. If games help you decompress without taking over your life, they’re working for you. If they start dictating your schedule, it’s a sign to rethink things.
After all, tomorrow there’s still an exam. And no game will ever write your notes for you.
V2
The future of online entertainment and the role of artificial intelligence in game predictability
Breathe in, breathe out. The screen glows softly, the cursor blinks, waiting for the next click. You launch a game and wonder: Is this really pure chance, or does the algorithm know more about you than you do yourself? The world of online entertainment is changing at breakneck speed. Artificial intelligence, once a futuristic idea from MIT labs, is already woven into gaming platforms, support chatbots and bonus systems.
This shift raises questions at the crossroads of science and entertainment. Can AI predict player behaviour? Where does true randomness end and managed experience begin? And most importantly, how do these technologies relate to responsibility towards the user?
How AI works in the world of online gaming
Artificial intelligence here isn’t about robots in shiny suits, but about invisible algorithms working behind the screens. Neural networks are trained on millions of gaming sessions: they see which buttons are clicked fastest, which slots keep players engaged longer, and which games are closed after only a few minutes.
Technically, it all comes down to machine learning and big data. Every deposit, every bet is a dot in the dataset. AI matches these dots and builds models to predict what to offer next: a fresh promotion, a bonus round or even a redesigned interface.
But this isn’t only about marketing. Algorithms check suspicious transactions, analyse fraud attempts and even estimate whether an account has been hacked. In the end, data science stands guard over the fairness and stability of the gaming process.
Player behaviour patterns and the role of data
Players behave more predictably than they seem. Scientific research shows that most follow certain routines: some prefer small, regular bets, others go for rare but high-stakes wagers. These patterns become raw material for algorithms.
In fact, a recent cross-country study found that “behavioural variables, such as taking self-exclusions, frequent in-session monetary depositing, and account depletion, were paramount in predicting self-reported problem gambling over monetary intensity variables.” (Hopfgartner, Auer, Helic et al., 2024)
AI notices when a player pauses every twenty minutes, or when they always return to the same category of games. Behavioural economics has long studied this: we respond to risk and reward emotionally, not rationally. AI simply records these patterns and uses them to suggest the “right” content at the right time.
The result is a dynamic gaming experience where the system itself has as much say as the player.
Predictability and the illusion of control
Predictability in games has always been double-edged. On one hand, gambling is based on randomness, powered by random number generators. On the other hand, the human brain constantly looks for patterns in chaos.
The illusion of control is a well-documented cognitive bias. A study in Nature Reviews Psychology notes that people often maintain expectations of personal success that are “inappropriately higher than the objective probability would warrant.” (Eben, 2025)
Players believe that pressing a button faster or picking a “lucky” slot might change the outcome. In reality, the result is already set by chance.
AI intensifies this paradox. The system may highlight games that “feel” more rewarding, though the odds remain unchanged. Predictability here doesn’t mean outcomes, but expectations: players believe they are in control, and it is this belief that keeps them engaged.
Responsible gambling and protective technologies
The science of addiction has long confirmed: gambling can spiral out of control. Symptoms echo other forms of dependency – loss of time, financial strain, and a compulsion to “chase losses.”
Here, AI becomes a tool for protection. Algorithms track warning signs: rising bets, late-night sessions, rapid repeat deposits. When the system spots such signals, it can intervene – display a cautionary message, suggest a break or even enforce a temporary block.
Psychology plays a role too: a gentle nudge is often more effective than a hard stop. That’s why reminders are phrased as friendly suggestions rather than strict commands.
Science helps build a responsible environment where entertainment coexists with care for well-being.
Independent solutions and the industry’s future
AI technology isn’t the sole domain of industry giants. In fact, independent projects are often the ones experimenting most. This is where the reference fits naturally: casinos with no sister sites can implement their own AI solutions without relying on standardised models from corporate networks. This gives them room to develop unique mechanics, stronger protective tools and more transparent systems of fairness.
While large platforms tend to standardise the experience, independents can push boundaries: from personalised bonus structures to innovative approaches to responsible gambling. AI in their hands becomes not only a commercial tool, but also a laboratory for new methods.
Scientific perspectives and ethical challenges
Every technology has its other side. AI can enhance safety and well-being, but it can just as easily fuel over-engagement by nudging players to stay online longer. Where does personalisation end and manipulation begin? This question is becoming central to ethical debate and regulatory planning.
Recent expert interviews reveal that while AI is increasingly valued for its capacity to enhance player engagement and streamline operations, there are persistent concerns about “algorithmic bias, operational integration, fraud prevention, and responsible gambling,” which are not yet adequately addressed. (Binesh, Ponnada, Syah et al., Journal of Gambling Studies, 2025)
A scoping review by Marionneau (2025) underscores that data-science tools in gambling are promising for early risk detection and tailored messaging, but emphasises that duty of care demands transparency and robust oversight mechanisms.
On one side, research shows AI can lower the risks of addiction. On the other hand, the same technology can increase profits by exploiting player vulnerabilities. Here science faces a dilemma: how to use algorithms for good, not harm.
Regulators are already discussing safeguards. In the future, rules may require algorithms to explain their decisions, or to give players more control over how personalisation works.
Looking Ahead
Online entertainment is entering a new era where artificial intelligence serves as the invisible architect of experience. It tracks patterns, predicts behaviour, aids in tackling addiction – while simultaneously raising serious ethical questions.
Memory science, risk psychology and the neuroscience of emotion converge at one point: a gaming session is no longer a purely random event.
The industry’s future depends on how AI is used. If algorithms are deployed for fairness and protection, players gain a safer, more engaging environment. If they are applied for profit at any cost, predictability turns into pressure. The answer isn’t clear yet, but one thing is: technology has already transformed what it means to play online.
References
- Hopfgartner, N., Auer, M., Helic, D., & Griffiths, M. (2024). Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms to Predict Self-Reported Problem Gambling Among Online Casino Gamblers from Different Countries Using Account-Based Player Data. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.
- Eben, C. (2025). The illusion of control in problematic gambling behaviour. Nature Reviews Psychology, 4, 311.
- Binesh, N., Ponnada, K., Syah, A. et al. (2025). The Future of the Gambling Industry is AI: Insights from Expert Interviews on Human-AI Collaboration, Regulation, and Ethics. Journal of Gambling Studies.
Marionneau, V. (2025). Duty of care, data science, and gambling harm: A scoping review. Journal of Behavioural Addictions.
