Tag: unreal money effect
Gambling and the Psychology of “Phantom Money”: Why Virtual Chips Seem Unreal
The Strange Reality of Phantom Money
In the modern gambling world, money is rarely cash in hand. Instead, it is translated into chips, tokens, or digital credits. For many, this translation does more than simplify transactions – it alters perception itself. Players handle chips or digital credits differently from banknotes, often taking risks they would never take with physical currency. This phenomenon, known as the psychology of phantom money, explains why betting often feels “unreal” until consequences arrive. Online platforms such as Spinanga casino provide a clear lens into this reality, where a digital wallet full of credits feels disconnected from the bills in your pocket.
The paradox is simple but profound: money that looks less like money tends to hurt less when lost.
The Origins of Phantom Money
From Clay Tokens to Digital Chips
The history of gambling has always involved abstraction. Ancient dice were not about wealth but ritual. Later, chips replaced coins in gambling halls not only for convenience but for psychological distance.
