Gambling addiction is a serious issue; the “play responsibly” warnings are not always enough. This goes for online slot playing as well. Slots make up the majority of the profits made by online casinos; this supports the claim that slots are the most played type of casino game. The addiction to playing slots is a variety of gambling addiction that is comparable to substance addiction. In this guide, there is a list of signs to look out for, as well as the fact that these games are designed to be addictive and draw players in – play here.
The Signs
The move from slot machine to online slots has made the gaming experience more focused, there are fewer things to distract you in a controlled environment. This means you can play for as long as you want, often for too long. If a player spends more than they can afford, lies about how long (or how often) they play, does not disclose or lies about the amount they won or lost – they may have a problem. Other signs are:
1. Often playing a slot for a longer period of time than intended.
2. The belief that they are not betting “real money”.
3. The constant, “I’ll win it all back next time”.
4. Having a one-track mind and always thinking of when they get to play again.
5. A personal relationship develops between the player and the slot.
6. Personal problems arise from playing slots too often.
Most important of all, if they think they have a problem, they very likely do.
The Addictive Design
Slots share the basic design of reels tumbling when the “spin” button is pushed. Slots are diverse and sport all kinds of themes and designs. Believe it or not, that cheery music and flashing lights are engineered to entice players and keep them playing. Psychologists are consulted to find out what makes people want to stick around and how they can enforce addictive behaviour.
The Brain’s Reward Centre
The high level of activity has a hypnotic effect on the human brain, the reward centre in the brain releases the happy hormone, dopamine when you win. Slots are designed to give you bonuses as you play to keep you happy and your hopes up. The speed of the slots makes players hearts race and increase their adrenalin levels. This is all carefully engineered and is not a coincidence, the game is designed as upbeat and even if you lost a round it will make you feel like you were, “so close”. These games do not require much skill, the repetitive motions make players zone out, there is even an autoplay feature that lets you do even less, just sit and watch the reels tumble.
Instant gratification
Since the gameplay for slots is typically simple, as well as, the fact that they are games of chance means that players do not need to think overly much. Unlike other casino games that require strategies or to wait for the round to be over to find out if you won, slots let you know instantly. You do not have to wait for the result and so if you won even a handful of coins, your high makes you keep playing. The game shows you just how “close” you were if you did not win by showing you the almost combinations on the board.
It is not an accident that slots make up the highest profits in the casino industry, they are designed to keep players playing and spending their money. Slots are the sneaky games of the online casino as their arcade-like appearance makes them seem harmless and fun. Many forget that they are playing with real money which means that they are reckless and keep going until the coins are finished.