Gambling addictions are at an all-time high with huge numbers of gamers taking to sites to play bingo, poker and roulette every single day. Slots are among the most addictive of the online games, but the problem with addiction as a whole cannot be ignored.
Warren Buffett has been famously quoted for calling gambling, in general, a ‘tax on stupidity’, but regardless of the individual opinions – the facts still stand that slot addiction is at a high with 0.1 per cent of the population identified as gambling addicts.
It’s a problem that leads people into dire financial situations, leads to depression, the falling apart of families and mass stress on the individual. But with strong withdrawal symptoms and temptations on every corner of the internet – it’s not always quite as simple as quitting cold turkey.
Why the addictions exist is almost as important as the addition themselves and are important to find out how to prevent, or how to capitalize, depending on which side of the fence you’ve set up camp. For every researcher trying to minimize the problem, there’s a giant casino optimizing their algorithms and machines to strip as much money as possible.
If we know what causes the addictions, maybe it can be easier to prevent them in the first place, right? So what are the main reasons for addiction to online slots?
1. Positive reinforcement hides loss
Play a slot machine for long enough and you’ll notice that you’ll bag some wins in amongst the losses – this is no accident.
Positive reinforcement hides loss, a win makes the losses seem insignificant and that players have the chance to break-even or win big. The market is saturated with casinos and if you’re one of them, you don’t want to burn your market out. If you want your customer to keep coming back, and get the most out of them, you need to let them have most of it back for a longer period of time.
The same mindset goes for most gambling based games, whether that’s slots, casino games or scratchcards. You’re likely to win a set percentage of the time, but overall, you’re set to lose in the bigger picture. But by holding onto a chunk of your money for a longer time, you’re more likely to eventually lose it all.
2. Accessible like never before
The accessibility of the online slot games is perhaps the most salient factor in the addiction of many gamers, with countless sites, apps and sources with access to play 24/7.
Smartphones and online betting play a huge part in the rise in young people seeking help for gambling addictions. The accessibility means that slots can be played in the palm of the hand, no matter the location. All that’s needed is an internet connection – meaning nowhere is off limits – be it at work, out with friends or even when travelling.
It’s a dangerous time for those with addictive personalities.
3. It’s an escape, like a video game
One of the biggest reasons for slot machine addiction is the escapism from reality that it allows, similar to video games or movies.
The escapism that gambling allows is one of the biggest reasons that women in particular fall into the trap of slots. Ms Field, an addict that amassed £70,000 in gambling debts, states:
“You’re in this online virtual reality so you’re not dealing with what you’re dealing with in reality. It feels like playing computer games when you’re a kid. You’ve got your high scores, your lives left. It just seems like digits, it’s not really money. That’s why people lose so much.”
4. Games are quick, maybe too quick
The games addictive nature are no accident either with every detail, down to the run time of each turn down to a specific science.
The faster the play, the more likely users are to play again and again. It’s just ‘one more spin’ again and again. A representative of the major gaming company Bally observes:
“A gaming machine is a very fast, money-eating device. The play should take no longer than three and a half seconds per game.”
With just seconds per play, it’s no surprise that lives can change with losses in the thousands taking nothing but a few hours online.
5. The universally pleasant tone of C
Everything down to the sound that slot machines make is the product of research and optimisation to create the most addictive machines and games possible.
A single slot machine can make as many as 400 discrete sounds with the target of the universally pleasant tone of C to make gamers keep on playing. The sonic strategy is used to smooth the ride and build the casino experience, both in-person and online, immersing gamers and hooking them onto the slots.
The sound, the feel, the number of wins, the images, feel and accessibility are to blame for the addictive nature of online slots and absolutely none of it is left down to chance.
6. Brain architecture left responsible?
But it might not all be down to the clever inner working of gambling machines and online slots, but the brain architecture of those that find addiction in the games.
Research into the brain structure of gambling addicts found that individuals with gambling addictions have diminished ventral striatal activation – the part of the brain responsible for emotional and motivational behavior aspects.
With diminished emotional and motivational behavior, it’s clear to see why the addiction is so difficult to kick. The mindset of the addict changes and gambling becomes the most important thing in their life, meaning neglect in every other area. Even when not gambling, they are always thinking of the next time they can and what can be betted upon.
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