Whenever poker players want to spice things up, they look for relevant promotions to add some excitement to their poker session. Extra cash prizes, poker no deposit bonuses, and other promos help them do just that. But why are those bonuses so enticing to poker players?
Apart from increasing ones' chances of winning big, those promotions trigger a biological response that will lift the players' spirit in no time at all. How does the brain react to online poker bonuses? And how can it affect our betting habits? Let's discover everything there is to know about the link between our brain and poker bonuses!
The Biological Reward System: Our Brain
It is no secret that the human body can do some marvelous things when necessary. Mothers can lift cars to rescue kids, men can survive freezing conditions, and so much more.
But not everything our body – and brain – do is all that heroic. However, it is just as spectacular – if not more. Every single day, our brain collects data. It analyzes which stimuli made us feel scared, sad, or elated.
Once it collects all the relevant information, our brain manages to do an extraordinary thing. It is able to predict which future stimuli might evoke similar reactions. Therefore, it teaches the body the appropriate way to react in certain situations – before things even happen.
That is, more or less, how our brains' reward system works. When we do fun and exciting things, like playing poker online and using lucrative bonuses, the brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine that makes us feel good. Scientists also believe that dopamine affects a specific part of the brain in charge of processing emotions and planning.
Apparently, once dopamine enters our system, the brain learns to associate potentially rewarding situations with a happy feeling. So, once you've used online poker bonuses and enjoyed it, your brain understands that this activity is worth remembering and repeating.
Every time you enter an online poker room and see the available bonuses, your brain will automatically activate the reward system and release dopamine – even before you place your bets.
How Can the Brains' Reward System Affect Our Poker Play?
Once we experience something fun that elevated the levels of dopamine in our brain, we are hooked. Our body will automatically crave to repeat the same experience over and over to feel happy again.
Therefore, when you use no deposit bonuses to make your poker session more exciting, you will probably want to look for even more bonuses to keep the dopamine levels up.
In most cases, triggering the reward system is pretty harmless. It simply makes your poker experience more enjoyable. However, anticipating a reward every time you place a bet can lead to addiction. In many cases, the dopamine reward cycle has been associated with drugs, as they can affect the reward system. But it was proven that if you trigger this system too often, you might need to increase the levels of stimulation to experience the same amount of joy.
So, what can you learn from it? If you place bets too often and without control, you might develop an addiction – as betting on small amounts of cash might no longer be enough.
In Conclusion
Playing poker online can make your brain release dopamine and make you feel happy. But be careful not to overuse the reward brain thrill, as it can lead to some dire consequences!