Have you ever wondered why a majority of slot players are hooked to the game? Granted, games can be addictive, but the addiction that comes with spinning the reels of slot machines seems to be way above the others.
Many have called this a myth, while some see the truth in it. In this article, we will talk extensively about the hypnotic effects of slot machines. Who knows, you might just be on your way to getting real answers to the reasons why you can’t take your hands off those reels.
Could the Wagering Conditions Be Enabling the Addiction?
Is it possible that the wagering or betting conditions be one of the reasons for the addiction? According to the information published in New York Times, it is claimed that “the particular addictiveness of modern slots has to do with the solitary, continuous, rapid wagering they enable.”
As a slot player, you are continually thrilled to try your hands on one or more of those reels until you hit the jackpot. Also, the rapid betting tactics used here could cause you to be more excited about playing the slots.
Psychology: The Real Reason Why Slot Reels Are so Addictive
The addictiveness of spinning slot reels is primarily because of psychological undertones. This Untamed Science website holds the view that “the reasons behind the success of slot machines lies in our brains.”
Here are some of the psychological reasons why playing slot machines could turn from fun to addiction:
It Is All About the Memory You Create
You might be consciously playing slot machines for the fun of it, but unconsciously, you are doing that to make money. Also, memories are created. Think of it this way – which type of winning would you remember the most? Is it the $50 win or the $500 win? The latter is usually the preferred answer.
The psychology here is that it would be etched on your mind if you win more money. Only then can you be able to take the time to remember even the tiniest details, such as the coloured graphics and the distinct tunes of the theme.
The Struggle for the Bigger Rewards
Slot machines are the most profitable games on online casinos. You may get some free spins as part of the casino no deposit bonus offers.
Slot machines are also “the shortcut” to making a fortune from online gaming, only if you understand how to go about it. This is why many punters are thrilled by the prospects of the bigger rewards and don’t pay heed to the lots of money they would lose in the process.
The Psychology of the Paylines
You would be wrong to think that the psychological connotations of getting addicted to slot reel-spinning are only in the brain. It can also be physical – and the paylines have been designed to make that possible.
Ordinarily, the payline of a slot machine has both the win and loss features, which can be obtained at the push of the button. But that is for the older slot machines. Since we are talking about the modern slot gaming environment, it is an entirely new experience.
Now, you are enchanted by the triumphant sound effects and the electrifying lights. You would even be feeling like a winner at the spin of a reel!
However, that is not always the case because you tend to lose more than you make. Take this as an instance – the modern slot machines are made of blurred lines that cover the wins and the losses. This is based on the concept of Losses Disguised as Wins (LDWs); a gambling model that covers the losses and projects more of the winnings.
Let us assume that you have $10 and you want to bet on a 100-line slot machine. As a rule of thumb, you want to divide your bankroll so you can hedge risks. Let’s say that you wagered or placed a bet of $1 on each of the lines.
The table below is used to show the likely outcome of your betting strategy:
| Amount Wagered | Number of Paylines | Outcome |
| $1 | 1 | $2 |
| $1 | 1 | – |
| $1 | 1 | – |
| $1 | 1 | – |
| $1 | 1 | $1 |
| $1 | 1 | – |
| $1 | 1 | $1 |
| $1 | 1 | – |
| $1 | 1 | – |
| $1 | 1 | $1 |
| Total = $10 | 10 Paylines | $5 |
From the above, you could see that despite the risk management strategies you used, it wasn’t possible to keep a thumb on your bankroll.
Thus:
- You lost 50% of your bankroll ($50).
- Only one of the lines was profitable; the rest were unprofitable or equivalent to the amount you wagered.
- The remaining lines didn’t return any amount, thereby, causing you to lose money.
In that case, you had a net loss of $5. That is how deceptive some modern slot machines can be if you don’t look beyond the flashing lights.
Other Reasons Why You May Be Addicted to Slot Machines
The psychological perspective is not the only reason why some slot machines are addictive. We will now discuss some of the other addictive factors.
Bonus Addiction Reason
Playing slot machines is addictive because of casino no deposit bonus options, which some gambling houses offer to their clients. These bonuses are so attractive that some players register in the casino, craving to try these free spins or the casino’s bonus money. Sometimes, after registration gamblers face other deposit or no deposit bonuses and keep playing slots there, enjoying these benefits. Thus, if the gambling house is good and reliable, it is quite difficult to quit and with time players can become addicted.
The Addiction Comes from the Urge to Play More
Slot machines, just like the other casino games (card games, video games, etc.) can be addictive if you decide to play more. The urge is always there and only a few players can resist it. The moment you start playing for real money, you will always want to be in the game.
But why is it so? Two factors are the reason behind this. Firstly, you are playing to make money and when you make profits, you would want to play more to make more profits. Second and most important, you could just be playing or betting on slot reels to recover your losses.
Sometimes, punters forget the slot machine has been programmed to return a specific rate to the players. This is called the Return to Player (RTP). Once this rate or percentage of the wagered amount is returned, nothing more would be sent out until the next betting round.
Therefore, punters who couldn’t get any share of the RTP would want to bet more so they can cover up for the losses they may have accrued. With time, your emotions would be connected to the game and you wouldn’t want to stop betting except you have made significant profits.
The Freedom of Betting Could Be an Addiction Catalyst
There is an argument on which time of the day is the most preferred for playing at slot machines. Some suggest the daytime when the players are filled with energy while others think that nighttime is a better time to play.
With the development of newer technologies, such as mobile gaming, it doesn’t seem like that the time of the day is so important. Through smartphones and desktops, slot machine lovers can play and gamble at the reels anytime, any day. Also, the convenience that this brings is unrivalled, because you don’t necessarily need to walk into an offline or land-based casino to place your bets.
The Mechanical Gameplay Can Be an Addicting Factor
If you want to start wagering on casino games, one of the factors you consider is simplicity. The simplicity of the betting process appeals to both the new and existing players, because they don’t have to rack their brains to figure out how to go about it.
Slot machines tick that box, thanks to the mechanical gameplay. The non-complexity of the games, as well as the inability to manipulate the outcome of the slots, make it all exciting.
Besides, the mechanical gameplay could also mean that:
- The players wouldn’t necessarily need to be too strategic.
- With the development of mobile gaming, players can now spin the reels from their smartphones.
It Is All a Game of Luck
Apart from the ability of gamblers to easily take new no deposit casino bonuses, which attract gamblers so much, the variance in slot machines is another factor that keeps players excited, and subtly encourage them to keep spinning the reels. Slot games with high variance are usually played the most because the players want to keep playing and betting to stand a chance of being picked when the huge payouts are distributed.
Slot Machines Are Immersive
Consider yourself to be in a trance-like state when playing slot games. This is because of the immersive experience, starting from the random free spins, the intuitive interface of the machine, and the lots of options to choose from.
In the state of being confined to a place with lots of exciting things going on around you, it wouldn’t be a great idea to stop that experience.
Final Thoughts
Spinning the reels of slot games is immersive, rewarding, and at the same time – addictive. You should take it one step at a time so you don’t get overly immersed in the game that you may end up spending a lot of time and money on the games.
