Illusion of control

Recovery language

Definition

The feeling that a personal action changes a random outcome — choosing your own numbers, blowing on dice, timing a button press. Many products are deliberately designed to give you buttons that do nothing, because the feeling of agency keeps people playing.

Preferred phrasing

safe to use as written.

Source

https://www.1800gambler.net/facts-fallacies

Cite this

Betttr. "Illusion of control." The Gambling Recovery Glossary. https://betttr.net/glossary/illusion-of-control/ (accessed 2026-09-20).

Last updated: 2026-09-20.

Corrections: support@betttr.net