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> one gives you the positive reinforcement of playing a game. Another gives you the positive reinforcement of money.

I'll assert that dopamine is the actual reinforcement in both cases.




Sure. What I'm really saying is that I bet cash payment triggers more dopamine than whatever gotcha/powerup/etc mechanic a mobile game can use. That cash payment is so much more of a potent reward that it makes sense to regulate gambling much more strictly. Of course, I'm speaking on aggregate and across the entire population, it's clear some individuals overspend on mobile games.




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