The Economic Times

Australian researchers in 2010 had 103 people hold a live crocodile before gambling to see whether excitement could increase betting; some at-risk gamblers bet more afterward

A group of researchers undertook a unique crocodile experiment to investigate arousal's effects on gambling behavior. Contrary to expectations, they found that increased arousal did not lead to raised bets across the board. Instead, recreational gamblers opted to lower their stakes, while at-risk gamblers showed mixed responses based on their emotional well-being. This study brought to light the intricate dynamics at play in electronic gaming machine interactions.