Experts say gambling companies use 'dark patterns' to hook Australians
Experts warn gambling operators use deceptive design tactics to entice users, worsening Australia's gambling addiction crisis.Summary
Experts warn that gambling operators are increasingly using deceptive design tactics, often called "dark patterns," to entice users and drive betting. These tactics include making accounts easy to create but difficult to close, using countdown clocks, and personalizing user experiences to exploit vulnerabilities. Australians lose $32 billion annually on gambling, more per capita than any other country. While some industry figures argue they provide engaging services, researchers like Philip Newall highlight how these platforms constantly conduct psychological experiments on customers. The use of such tactics raises legal questions, as they may fall under advertising regulations or consumer law against misleading conduct. Critics argue that recent government reforms, focused mainly on television advertising, fail to address the more pervasive and sophisticated deceptive design used online.
(Source：ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation))