Psychological, Cognitive and Behavioral Drivers of Risk-Taking in Digital Gambling and Financial Decision-Making

Dear Colleagues,

The digital revolution has profoundly transformed the landscapes of gambling and financial decision-making, introducing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. As online platforms become increasingly accessible, understanding the psychological and behavioral underpinnings of risk-taking behaviors in these domains is more critical than ever. To address this pressing need, Behavioral Sciences, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal published by MDPI, is pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue titled "Psychological, Cognitive and Behavioral Drivers of Risk-Taking in Digital Gambling and Financial Decision-Making".

This Special Issue aims to delve into the multifaceted factors that influence individuals' propensity to engage in risk-laden activities within digital gambling and financial contexts. We invite researchers and practitioners to contribute original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and insightful theoretical papers that explore, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Cognitive Biases and Heuristics: Investigations into how mental shortcuts and biases, such as the gambler's fallacy and overconfidence, impact decision-making processes in online gambling and digital financial investments.
• Personality Traits and Risk Propensity: Studies examining the role of individual differences, including time perspective, impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and self-control, in predicting engagement and behaviors in digital gambling and financial risk-taking.
• Demographic and Cultural Factors: Projects addressing the influence of demographic and cultural factors like age, gender, socioeconomic status, and cultural norms regarding risk taking.
• Emotional and Affective Influences: Research exploring how emotions like excitement, fear, and regret shape risk-taking behaviors and decision outcomes in virtual gambling environments and online trading platforms.
• Technological and Environmental Factors: Analyses of how digital interfaces, user experience design, and online social interactions influence risk perceptions and behaviors in digital gambling and financial decision-making.
• Preventive Measures and Interventions: Evaluations of strategies and tools aimed at mitigating problematic risk-taking behaviors, promoting responsible gambling, and enhancing prudent financial decision-making in digital contexts.

By compiling cutting-edge research in these areas, this Special Issue seeks to enhance our understanding of the psychological and behavioral mechanisms driving risk-taking in the digital age. Our goal is to inform the development of effective interventions, policies, and educational programs that promote healthier engagement with digital gambling and financial platforms.

We encourage interested authors to submit their manuscripts through the Behavioral Sciences submission portal by April 30, 2026. All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the publication of high-quality research. For detailed submission guidelines and further information, please visit the journal's website.

Join us in advancing the discourse on the psychological and behavioral drivers of risk-taking in digital gambling and financial decision-making, contributing to a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of these critical issues in our increasingly digital world.

Dr. Lening Alexis Olivera-Figueroa
Prof. Dr. Ali Emdad
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• digital gambling
• financial decision-making
• risk-taking behavior
• cognitive biases
• personality traits
• impulsivity
• emotional influences
• online trading
• behavioral interventions
• responsible gambling
• online gaming
• sports betting