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Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices

Jack McGarrigle, JESSICA SMITH, Joe Griffiths, Jamie Torrance Orcid Logo, Martyn Quigley Orcid Logo, Simon Dymond Orcid Logo

Journal of Behavioral Addictions

Swansea University Authors: Jack McGarrigle, JESSICA SMITH, Joe Griffiths, Jamie Torrance Orcid Logo, Martyn Quigley Orcid Logo, Simon Dymond Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1556/2006.2025.00096

Abstract

Background and aims: Dark patterns are online platform design features that influence consumer behaviour to the advantage of the interface designer. In online gambling, such designs may exacerbate gambling-related harms, particularly among vulnerable consumers. This study aims to provide the first s...

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Published in: Journal of Behavioral Addictions
ISSN: 2062-5871 2063-5303
Published: Akademiai Kiado Zrt. 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71152
first_indexed 2025-12-17T14:01:02Z
last_indexed 2026-01-23T06:52:00Z
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In online gambling, such designs may exacerbate gambling-related harms, particularly among vulnerable consumers. This study aims to provide the first scoping review of dark patterns in online gambling. Methods: Following established scoping review frameworks, we systematically searched databases and grey literature using terms related to dark patterns and online gambling. The review protocol was preregistered. Results: Included articles (n = 16) addressed a variety of gambling-related dark patterns: hidden gambling management tools, inducements with complex conditions, minimum balances required to withdraw funds, unnecessary frictions involved in closing an account, high defaults in stake, deposit, reality check and deposit limit settings, and urgency-based gambling prompts. To address inconsistent terminology across studies, we synthesised existing literature by mapping identified dark patterns to a transdisciplinary framework, providing greater conceptual clarity and direction for future research. Discussions and conclusions: The potential for harm from dark patterns is evident, yet evidence on behavioural impacts is limited, hindered by restricted access to proprietary gambling operator data. Research in this area is sparse and fragmented, often using inconsistent terminology. Future studies should empirically investigate the influence of dark patterns on consumer behaviour, especially among vulnerable populations, and evaluate safer design alternatives. 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spelling 2026-01-22T14:32:31.9915519 v2 71152 2025-12-17 Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices 64f915e9af3796f57e4c5e9c4dabe475 Jack McGarrigle Jack McGarrigle true false d6b31087819ac57217b651290fdf158f JESSICA SMITH JESSICA SMITH true false 781f43a93316fd27d724f2eecf997ae0 Joe Griffiths Joe Griffiths true false de868c4f56d8f5fbecbd686fdbb7b4b5 0000-0001-5001-4126 Jamie Torrance Jamie Torrance true false 45ba0b00b12b2a4cd533dcd42f0121d9 0000-0003-4342-1369 Martyn Quigley Martyn Quigley true false 8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075 0000-0003-1319-4492 Simon Dymond Simon Dymond true false 2025-12-17 PSYS Background and aims: Dark patterns are online platform design features that influence consumer behaviour to the advantage of the interface designer. In online gambling, such designs may exacerbate gambling-related harms, particularly among vulnerable consumers. This study aims to provide the first scoping review of dark patterns in online gambling. Methods: Following established scoping review frameworks, we systematically searched databases and grey literature using terms related to dark patterns and online gambling. The review protocol was preregistered. Results: Included articles (n = 16) addressed a variety of gambling-related dark patterns: hidden gambling management tools, inducements with complex conditions, minimum balances required to withdraw funds, unnecessary frictions involved in closing an account, high defaults in stake, deposit, reality check and deposit limit settings, and urgency-based gambling prompts. To address inconsistent terminology across studies, we synthesised existing literature by mapping identified dark patterns to a transdisciplinary framework, providing greater conceptual clarity and direction for future research. Discussions and conclusions: The potential for harm from dark patterns is evident, yet evidence on behavioural impacts is limited, hindered by restricted access to proprietary gambling operator data. Research in this area is sparse and fragmented, often using inconsistent terminology. Future studies should empirically investigate the influence of dark patterns on consumer behaviour, especially among vulnerable populations, and evaluate safer design alternatives. We recommend mandating gambling operators to collaborate with researchers to assess platform safety, and shifting the burden of proof onto operators to demonstrate that their platforms prioritise consumer safety and foster responsible gambling environments. Journal Article Journal of Behavioral Addictions 0 Akademiai Kiado Zrt. 2062-5871 2063-5303 dark patterns; dark nudges; sludge; gambling; platform design; consumer protection 6 1 2026 2026-01-06 10.1556/2006.2025.00096 Review Article COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University External research funder(s) paid the OA fee (includes OA grants disbursed by the Library) ESRC (ES/Y001818/1); The lead author is funded by a Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) scholarship, through the UK Research and Innovation Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) under grant number PSF1089-102. 2026-01-22T14:32:31.9915519 2025-12-17T13:58:47.1276376 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Jack McGarrigle 1 JESSICA SMITH 2 Joe Griffiths 3 Jamie Torrance 0000-0001-5001-4126 4 Martyn Quigley 0000-0003-4342-1369 5 Simon Dymond 0000-0003-1319-4492 6 71152__35998__660580163ba44d51aa3eae7c0cb94823.pdf 71152.VOR.pdf 2026-01-15T10:28:07.2910241 Output 976068 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices
spellingShingle Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices
Jack McGarrigle
JESSICA SMITH
Joe Griffiths
Jamie Torrance
Martyn Quigley
Simon Dymond
title_short Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices
title_full Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices
title_fullStr Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices
title_full_unstemmed Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices
title_sort Dark patterns in online gambling: A scoping review and classification of deceptive design practices
author_id_str_mv 64f915e9af3796f57e4c5e9c4dabe475
d6b31087819ac57217b651290fdf158f
781f43a93316fd27d724f2eecf997ae0
de868c4f56d8f5fbecbd686fdbb7b4b5
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author_id_fullname_str_mv 64f915e9af3796f57e4c5e9c4dabe475_***_Jack McGarrigle
d6b31087819ac57217b651290fdf158f_***_JESSICA SMITH
781f43a93316fd27d724f2eecf997ae0_***_Joe Griffiths
de868c4f56d8f5fbecbd686fdbb7b4b5_***_Jamie Torrance
45ba0b00b12b2a4cd533dcd42f0121d9_***_Martyn Quigley
8ed0024546f2588fdb0073a7d6fbc075_***_Simon Dymond
author Jack McGarrigle
JESSICA SMITH
Joe Griffiths
Jamie Torrance
Martyn Quigley
Simon Dymond
author2 Jack McGarrigle
JESSICA SMITH
Joe Griffiths
Jamie Torrance
Martyn Quigley
Simon Dymond
format Journal article
container_title Journal of Behavioral Addictions
container_volume 0
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 2062-5871
2063-5303
doi_str_mv 10.1556/2006.2025.00096
publisher Akademiai Kiado Zrt.
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Background and aims: Dark patterns are online platform design features that influence consumer behaviour to the advantage of the interface designer. In online gambling, such designs may exacerbate gambling-related harms, particularly among vulnerable consumers. This study aims to provide the first scoping review of dark patterns in online gambling. Methods: Following established scoping review frameworks, we systematically searched databases and grey literature using terms related to dark patterns and online gambling. The review protocol was preregistered. Results: Included articles (n = 16) addressed a variety of gambling-related dark patterns: hidden gambling management tools, inducements with complex conditions, minimum balances required to withdraw funds, unnecessary frictions involved in closing an account, high defaults in stake, deposit, reality check and deposit limit settings, and urgency-based gambling prompts. To address inconsistent terminology across studies, we synthesised existing literature by mapping identified dark patterns to a transdisciplinary framework, providing greater conceptual clarity and direction for future research. Discussions and conclusions: The potential for harm from dark patterns is evident, yet evidence on behavioural impacts is limited, hindered by restricted access to proprietary gambling operator data. Research in this area is sparse and fragmented, often using inconsistent terminology. Future studies should empirically investigate the influence of dark patterns on consumer behaviour, especially among vulnerable populations, and evaluate safer design alternatives. We recommend mandating gambling operators to collaborate with researchers to assess platform safety, and shifting the burden of proof onto operators to demonstrate that their platforms prioritise consumer safety and foster responsible gambling environments.
published_date 2026-01-06T05:34:42Z
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