would winning your bet “by a hair” make you happier?

[Cityhunter34]

I'm happier when it's obviously known that my  bet is going to win from the first half and that's because it keeps me not being worried again of what will happen in the last minute, if it goes the opposite way, that's a win by hair, I might even be losing hope and having a doubt if the game will be successful or not.

Of course, winning in the first half makes gamblers more happier than anything else, because you wouldn't be too worried about the game. But watching the game live when your bet is on the right track can easily make a gambler feel more worried, because your mind wouldn't be at rest at all. But when the game is going other way around, that is when it makes more sense to watch.

But the real fact here is the winning, nothing else.

[junder]

If we keep losing, it is really wise to stop playing for a while. Because when we keep losing, many people cannot control themselves or start playing more aggressively and face big losses. So it is not at all wrong that we stop playing when we lose.

Yes, whenever we think about winning and losing again and again, we may be under mental stress and as a result we may take big wrong decisions. For example, many times it is seen that we get attracted to thinking about a thing again and again, even though our situation is not with us at that moment, we get up and do that thing again and again and face big losses.

After suffering a single loss, the right course of action is to stop and not prolong the gambling session however, some people may still choose to continue betting by extending their session after losing, depositing more money to try to recoup their previous losses and this is a mistake that should be avoided.

Losing is obviously frustrating, but when we can’t control ourselves we’ll end up in an even worse situation. Starting with poor or reckless behavior, continuing to gamble will likely lead to a losing streak.

[Moreno233]

There is definitely a type of feeling that comes when the winning happen unexpected, like when you had given up and all of a sudden everything clicked and you move from losing your money to having a good run. So yes, I will be happier when I win by a hair but it is not a situation I would want to be in always for the sake of my mental health. Winning my bet early is more relaxing for me even though it does not bring that kind of immense happiness.

[Kelward]

Yes u are right i also noticed this that gamblers often enjoy dramatic wins more than comfortable wins even though comfortable wins are usually healthier and more profitable in the long run . The reason is simple dopamine rush. Let me explain human emotions are driven more by relief and surprises than by logic . If i explain the first scenario that u shared in the post the brain goes from i am going to lose to i won  within minutes. That emotional swing makes a stronger dopamine rush. While in the second scenario  where the bet becomes almost certain from the start in the match there is less tension and less surprises. Instead of relief  the mind often starts thinking like i should have bet more etc etc in psychological terms this is known as counterfactual thinking.

The good feelings of a win is natural but the excitements levels differs, if you the game that you bet on is going as planned before it ends you wouldn't feel any pressures, you will be more relaxed with just a little anxiety that it doesn't go against you. But if the game is going against you from the beginning and towards the end you start to see a glimpse of hope that you can win you would experience a great dopamine rush.

If you're a bettor who likes thrills to live on the edge I think that you would enjoy the dopamine rush more than a comfortable bet which doesn't add much dopamine. We have to also consider how much you staked on a bet the higher the amount the higher chances of dopamine if you're almost losing your bet and suddenly there is a glimpse of hope that you can win.