Player behaviour after big losses

1) The essence of the phenomenon

A major loss is a loss of an amount that substantially exceeds a player's normal budget for a session or day. For a recreational player, it can be $50-100, for a high roller - thousands of dollars. Regardless of absolute magnitude, the subjective threshold is important: when a loss is perceived as a "significant blow."

2) Immediate behavioral reactions

Loss chasing: The player increases the stakes or continues the game over the limit to "win back."

Acceleration of the pace of the game: fewer pauses between the backs, more auto-spins, aggressive bets.

Content change: Switching to more volatile slots or jackpot games with hopes of a "big return."

Additional deposits: after zeroing the bankroll, the player more often makes a new deposit within 24 hours.

3) Delayed reactions (1-7 days)

Repeat visits: Some players return earlier than the usual schedule to restore balance.

Growth in deposits: Starting amounts often increase in the next sessions.

Emotional decline: some players have a temporary decrease in activity if the loss is perceived as demotivating.

"Compensatory" behavior: switching to low-voltage slots or smaller bets to stay in the game longer.

4) Reaction segmentation

Recreational players: more often leave after a major loss, reduce activity or pause.

Involved: prone to catch-up behavior, increase deposits and frequency of visits.

High-rollers: Take a big loss as "part of the game" but increase risky bets to get the balance back quickly.

5) Metrics for analysis

Rate of repeated deposits within 24/48 hours of a major loss.

Change in the average rate in subsequent sessions (rise or fall).

Proportion of players returning to the game within 24 hours of losing.

Distribution of repeat spending: median vs upper 5%.

Duration of sessions after a loss (often higher due to attempts to "recoup").

6) Behavioral patterns

For 20-30% of players, losing causes a quick doubling or tripling of bets.

In the upper percentiles of expenses (top-5%), loss often leads to super deposits within one to two days.

For some players, losing starts a "fast spending cycle": several short but expensive sessions in a row.

For recreational players, after losing, median spending decreases, for those involved, it grows.

7) Impact on total spending in 2025

Big losses reinforce the concentration of spending in the top 5-10% of players.

The average check for the population is growing precisely due to players engaging in catching up behavior.

For the analysis of Australian spending in 2025, it is important to consider not only the average deposit, but also the patterns of reactions after losses, which affect the total turnover.

8) Final conclusions

After major losses, players are divided into two groups: "stopped" and "catching up."

The main increase in spending is provided by catching up players, who most often belong to the loyal and involved segments.

In 2025, behavior after losses remains a key factor in determining the distribution of expenses: losses stimulate some players to spend more and faster than they planned.