Gambling is often associated with excitement. The anticipation of a win, the thrill of almost winning, and the rising tension before the next result can all create a powerful sense of arousal. But does being highly aroused actually make people gamble more? Researchers Michael J. Rockloff and Nancy Greer set out to test that question in an unusual experiment involving 103 adults, a simulated electronic gaming machine and a one-meter saltwater crocodile.
Their findings, published in the Journal of Gambling Studies in 2010, suggested that the answer was more complicated than simply saying that excitement makes people bet more.
