When the vast majority of people enter a casino, they do so with the understanding that they are far more likely to lose money than to win money. People will go to great lengths to limit themselves and the amount of time they spend gambling in order to keep their financial losses under control. The fact that casinos are designed in such a way that the majority of bets are almost always lost in order for the establishments to maintain a profit level is fairly well known.
Despite the fact that most people are aware of this fact, there are still those who go to casinos and waste thousands of dollars on slot machines in the extremely remote hope of winning the jackpot. Why, though? There’s no point in continuing to gamble if you already know how the game will end. It has been discovered that appealing to a person’s sense of logic is what keeps people returning for more.
What do you see when you look at slot machines, such as Megaways slots, for example?
A slew of dazzling lights and a rainbow of colors. Whatever the overall concept of the design, each one has flashing lights and a plethora of different colors. Even though we keep losing, there’s something about this that keeps luring us back in for “one more spin.” Because it is so effective at capturing our attention, you may not even notice what is going on. Simply set the game to automatic mode and continue playing.
In our brains, there is a chemical called dopamine, which is responsible for our reward system
Consider the following scenario: If you want to lose weight, you have to make the decision to go to the gym more frequently, drink more water, and eat healthier foods. You won’t have to put up with this for long before you despise it. However, you get excited when you put on some pants and notice that they have a more comfortable fit. You’re feeling more motivated to stick with the diet so you can see more results, which makes you happy. This is caused by the release of dopamine. Dopamine release not only makes you feel good, but it also motivates you to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to re-create that feeling of well-being. We are persuaded to make the correct decision rather than continue down the wrong path as a result of this process.
What does this have to do with slot machines?
This is significant because humans can obtain dopamine from a number of different sources. To repeat the question, what comes to mind when you think of slot machines? A rainbow of colors and brilliant illumination. Because all of these bright lights and colors are appealing to our senses, dopamine is released in our brains. This makes us feel good while also making us want more of it. This is why you are happy despite the fact that you have just lost some money. However, as time passes, you become accustomed to that sensation, and as a result, you require more dopamine to achieve the same result. So you keep trying, and trying, and trying. You blink, and before you know it, three hours have passed and you have no more money.
Addiction, on the other hand, entails more than just bright colors and flashing lights
The casino wants you to feel as if you have a connection to the machine. When you can connect with something, you feel a stronger pull toward it. It is something that is tailored to your specific requirements. Evidently, determining the preferences of others is difficult. Casinos use a variety of different layouts to ensure that customers have a good time and can find something that suits their tastes. That is why there is such a wide range of icons and topics featured on these machines. If someone is a big sports fan, for example, and they see a slot machine with a sports theme, they are more likely to use it than someone who prefers something with an Egyptian theme.
Keep in mind that all of this is happening on a level beneath your conscious awareness. You are completely unaware of what is going on around you. You are only aware that the layout appears to be quite appealing, and you are eager to begin playing.
For a moment, imagine you were playing a slot machine with no bright colors
It was dark and of high quality. The only lights were the ones on the screen, which allowed you to see the symbols on the screen. Do you believe you could play the game for hours on end? Most likely not, because you’d lose interest in doing so. It is devoid of life. Everything is uninteresting, and nothing could possibly capture your attention in this situation.
As a result, the next time you play a slot machine, pay close attention to how it is designed and keep a mental note of how you feel. You’ll begin to notice all of the subtle and not-so-subtle design choices that are influencing the emotions you’re feeling.