What’s interesting is they offer no chance to make money. Instead once you start paying they give you access to special clubs where you compete against each other, have conversations, etc. but of course if you stop paying you lose access to all of these.
That's key because it shows how money isn't the only reward that can encourage unhealthy gambling behavior. It sounds like the victims express feeling of a sunk cost, knowing that if they don't maintain their status with additional purchases, all the previous money spent will have been wasted. If it took them $10k to get there, why throw it all away (and disappoint their "club") if you can keep it rolling for another $100?
