You go to a casino and are dazzled by all of the bells and whistles and flashing lights. There are hundreds of people around you, all playing different games – craps, blackjack, video poker, MahJong, and others. They are either boisterous while playing or quiet while contemplating their next move. But there is interaction on their part.
Then you glance over and see the people playing the slot machines. While some of them may be looking around at what is going on around them, others may seem like automatons, just feeding money into the machine with blank expressions. They keep going until they win, or they lose all the money they brought. Then they just walk away, mostly without emotion.
If you are fascinated by what is most likely going on in the psyches of those playing slot machines, you can read on.
The Pursuit of Large Payouts Rules Their Psyche
When people are playing slots on sites like gamingcity, they are always thinking that the next pull is the one that is going to be the jackpot. This is what keeps them feeding those quarters into the slot machine. Then, if they make a modest payout, they may think there is a larger one around the corner. So they will likely feed those quarters that they won right back into the machine, thinking that they are going to hit it big soon.
This is different from things like craps or blackjack, where the winnings can be incremental. Here, it takes just one time when certain symbols line up on the screen for them to go from struggling to rich. The fact that the odds are pretty much against them doesn’t enter their minds.
The Pull of Dopamine is Strong
When people gamble, success often triggers the release of a dopamine chemical, which floods the pleasure centers of their brains. It gives them the feeling of a natural high. They feel so good and it is like there is nothing wrong with the world at all. So they want to feel that often during the course of an evening. A craps player will exult every time they roll a good hand, for example.
But that feeling when you see those symbols on the slot machine line up perfectly and then you see the coins coming out. That is a great feeling. People are sitting there playing and watching those symbols spin, waiting to get that dopamine hit. There are times when it can be a long time coming … if at all.
The big problem is that the gamblers are not aware that they are under the influence of these chemicals. They will just keep playing so that they feel happy. But if it happens one time, they think that it will happen again. Then they will just keep chasing that feeling … and it will lead them straight to bankruptcy sometimes.
The Lure of Control Keeps Them There
When people gamble, there are certain elements that make them feel like they are in control. When they play craps, it’s their hand that throws the dice. That gives them a sense of control. They don’t feel the same way about something like roulette – it’s someone else dropping the ball into the spinning wheel.
But slots do let them feel like they are doing something. They are pushing the spin button or pulling the lever on older slot machines. They are somewhat in charge of their destiny. Even if the spin does not result in a win, if the symbols are different each time, the gambler will feel like they are still doing something themselves.
They Get Immersed in The Game Play
These slot machines are very colorful. They have their themes and symbols. They may also be very noisy – spending a lot of time around them may make you want to get earplugs. But this is all carefully designed to draw the gambler in. They feel like they are interacting with the slot machine.
You might think of it like a pinball machine, which also has a lot of similar characteristics. Even though you are spending money, it’s also a game of sorts that is also designed to entertain you while it takes those quarters away from you.
It’s easy to get sucked into these things. That is why casinos make a lot of money. They study the human condition and set things up to keep people there. If you go in there knowing this ahead of time, you can leave with some money. Good luck.
The Science of Slot Machine Playing
Slot machines have been around for centuries, and they continue to be popular today. Slot machines use a number of psychological principles to keep players hooked and spending money. The science of slot machine playing is complex, but the following are five key points that will help you understand how these machines work:
The Hot Hand: Slot machines use the hot hand phenomenon to keep players gambling. The hot hand is when a player has had success in previous rounds of play and is likely to continue doing so in future rounds. A slot machine will try to take advantage of this by rewarding the player with bonus features or increased payouts if they continue to gamble in similar fashion.
Cognitive Dissonance: Slot machines rely on cognitive dissonance to keep players hooked. Cognitive dissonance occurs when people have two conflicting thoughts or attitudes about something, and it can be a strong motivator for change. In the case of slot machines, players need to believe that they are winning consistently in order to keep gambling. If they stop believing this, they will likely stop playing the machine.
Time-Out: Slot machines also use time-out tactics to keep players gambling longer than they might otherwise. Time-out refers to any technique used by a business or individual that interrupts or prevents someone from completing a task or action due to boredom, lack of motivation, or decision fatigue. In the case of slot machines, time-out can mean giving out bonus features frequently or randomly resetting the game so that the player is constantly starting from scratch.
Conclusion
If you’re like most people, you probably think of slot machines as a fun way to pass the time. After all, they’re exciting and entertaining, right? But did you know that there is more to them than meets the eye? In this article, we explored some of the psychology behind slot machines, and how it can help you win big. So if you’re looking for a little edge on your competition, don’t forget this!
