Why Are Slot Machines So Addictive?

With the rise of online betting and the ever-growing gambling market at large, you might be surprised to learn that slot machines still reign supreme in terms of addictiveness.

Why is this? Slots seem like they would be the most benign, but the key to their allure is in their simplicity.

Slot machines actually are one of the first types of betting people try, which gets them hooked early. They offer a lower barrier to entry in that they’re relatively cheap to play and require little knowhow. With the simple press of a button, the user is flooded with excitement and adrenaline from the heart-racing hope for a jackpot amidst flashing lights and sound effects—followed by brief disappointment. But aren’t you lucky? Slot machines are designed for faster play than other types of gambling, so you just press the button again for not that much money and soon you’ve rationalized betting again, eventually breezing past your original boundaries.

One can see how this pattern feeds on our addictive instincts and dopamine reward responses–so much so that experts call slot machines the “crack cocaine” of gambling.

The kicker with slot machines is that they’re programmed to work in favor of the house all while psychologically programming users to believe they’re surely due a payout soon. This phenomenon is called the “sunk cost fallacy”, “gambler’s fallacy”, or simply “chasing your losses.” It’s found outside of gambling and in other types of gambling certainly, but the private, isolated nature of slot machines increases the likelihood of getting sucked in.

“We know that gambling that is anonymous, where you don’t have to interact with anyone, can be addictive,” said Dr. Timothy W. Fong, a clinical professor of Psychology at UCLA. “Also gambling that is tied to really large immediate payouts like slot machines can also be enticing. When you bet small amounts trying to get the huge jackpot, that’s definitely a risk factor.”

If you’re struggling with problem gambling and mental health, contact 1-800-GAMBLER for immediate help any time. For strategies on how to play responsibly, visit responsibleplay.org.

Sources:
https://thehaynesclinic.com/gambling-addiction/why-do-people-get-addicted-to-slot-machines/
https://practicalpie.com/gamblers-fallacy/
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/gambling-addiction-can-cause-psychological-physiological-health-challenges