A gambling app I worked on aims to solve users’ problems with gambling addiction, by giving them tools to control it.
It allows users to set timers for money and time spent on the game. They can find a professional help of a therapist, or join chats where they can talk about their problems with others. Gambling is a serious issue, that negatively affects people’s lives. The app allows users to switch from gambling to investing and gain saving money habits.
Role
- Research
- UX Design
- Wireframes
Duration
June 2022 (3 weeks)
The problem
- Users of gambling apps often feel like they can’t control their habits.
- Users often suffer from higher risks of ending up with a debt.
- Users are also at a higher risk of stress and anxiety issues.
The Goal
- We want to change the way people gamble, by providing them with tools to control their habits.
- The new app should allow users to not lose their money.
- We want to create a safe space, where users can get professional help.
Research
User Pain Points
Users feel like they can’t control their gambling habit, often ending up spending more time and money than they wanted to.
High levels of gambling are linked with a 37% increase in mortality for both men and women, younger and older,
Gamblers have a higher risk of unemployment and are very likely to have experienced mental health issues.
Personas
Diana
- Age: 22
- Education: High school diploma
- Hometown: London
- Family: married
- Occupation: cashier
Diana is an online game gambler. She enjoys playing as a way to relax. She often plays at home on her couch or in the bedroom if her husband watches football. She usually plays at night on her phone or tablet. She hopes one day she is going to win a bigger sum and pursue an education.
Goals
- Enjoy time for herself while playing without feeling guilty
- Not lose as much money on playing
- Learn ways to control the time and money she spends on her hobby
Frustrations
- “I feel guilty for spending the money on gambling.”
- “I don’t win as often as I’d like to.”
- “I feel like I can’t control myself, but everybody is telling me it’s ok to play if I can still pay my rent.”
Problem Statement
Diana is a woman who is often bored and needs to be in control of time and money spent playing because she would like to save some time and money for education.
User Journey Map
Digital Wireframes
We decided to go with a dark theme. There is an association between gambling, social isolation and night-time wakefulness. Users are more likely to play at night and dark colors are more pleasant for their eyes.
Usability Study
I found that participants
- Felt like there was too much info on the invested/donated/saved page
- Missed a button on invested/donated/saved page
- Were confused by the button on the wheel page
Based on this I decided to
- Make the invested/donated/saved page more organised
- Make the button on the invested/donated/saved page more prominent
- Make the button less prominent
We changed the designs accordingly
Final Designs
Along with the app, a responsive website was created, mainly to map gambling risks, and promote help for gamblers and their families.
App website
I created a website to encourage users to download the app. The users can also learn about gambling addiction and understand when and how to get help.