Psychology plays a huge role in both gambling and marketing. Therefore, it isn’t surprising to learn that many casinos incorporate psychology to influence player behavior. Not only do they do so by awarding bonuses, free spins, and a variety of games, but psychology heavily influences the casino game design itself. In this article, we explore how they do it.
Rewards for Failing
The ultimate goal when playing slots is to hit the jackpot. However, getting that grand prize is a rare occurrence. In other words, people get discouraged when, after their fifth or so tries, they still have nothing to show for it. How can gambling platforms make up for that?
Simply, they reward players even if they’ve failed. Near-miss effects, extra spin bonuses, variable rewards, and lower payouts are ways online casinos reward players for failing to hit the jackpot. However, that also ensures the players keep spinning reels longer and more frequently.
Instant Payout Promises
One of the aspects of online gambling that rubs people the wrong way is the long processing time that many are subject to. Deposits usually take a few minutes. However, processing withdrawals could take hours, days, and even weeks. That certainly doesn’t sit right with many people.
Luckily, plenty of USA online casino instant payout platforms will pay in a reasonable time. However, “instant” is often a buzzword for fast-payout casinos. Indeed, very few casinos payout instantly.
In this case, online casinos use “instant” as a synonym for fast or reasonable. It might take a couple of hours, or even a day, for a so-called instant payout platform to give you your cash. While it may not seem fast, comparing it to the usual wait time at online casinos, it is much quicker.
Visual Stimuli
For a long time, slots were pretty rudimentary in their design—a rectangular box with a reel and some fruit icons to accompany it and add a little color. While eye-catching, to be sure, they were nowhere near the slot machines that we have today, especially online.
If you visit any online casino, you will face many online slot games that take inspiration from all walks of life. Action-based, westerns, science fiction, fantasy, myth, legend, etc. All of these work to attract people interested in those genres and get them to play the game.
Audio Stimuli
If you thought it ended at visuals, you’d be sorely mistaken. Online casinos use audio stimuli to attract a larger crowd and keep them playing. Catchy music is the obvious one to think about here. However, some audio effects are specifically created to hit just the right note so gamblers would want to hear it again.
Together, when combined with visual stimuli, the two become a potent psychological manipulation tactic designed to leave players wanting more. On the other hand, many players need to pay more attention to online slot designs and outright mute the game to avoid being manipulated.
A Sense of Progression
Many online casinos use “level-up systems” to give players a sense of progression. The practice is so common that even no-deposit, cash-free bingo sites tend to take advantage of it to generate more traffic. The idea is to link online gambling to a video game and create a sense of achievement when you do win.
Most online casinos achieve a sense of progression by awarding points, which players can stack up until they hit new levels. The new levels often don’t give any advantages; when they do, they don’t do much. However, some online casinos know how to tie the levels to hefty rewards.
- VIP Clubs
Gamblers can leverage their levels to join VIP clubs by accumulating enough points. These promotions often award players bonus options, open a path to exciting new games, and make players feel like royalty.
FAQ
How popular are online casinos in 2023?
Online casinos are now more popular than they’ve ever been. A lot more people are visiting gambling sites than ever before.
Do online slots use psychology to influence players?
Absolutely. Most businesses use psychological manipulation tactics to attract an audience. Online casinos are no different.
Why do online slots incorporate diverse themes?
The reason is simple: they do so to attract an audience already invested in those themes. Sci-fi slots are much more likely to attract science-fiction fans than regular fruit games.
Do online slots appeal to gamers more than land-based slots?
Yes, and there is a reason. Online slots incorporate level-up systems that gamers can recognize and identify with.
What keeps people coming back to online slots?
They are fun, is what it boils down to. Spinning reels can be a fun way to alleviate stress or just have some fun.
Last Thoughts on Slots
Most businesses incorporate psychological manipulation and aggressive marketing tactics to attract an audience. Online slots are no different. They do their best to keep audiences interested and playing for as long as possible. After all, what business doesn’t want their product at the forefront of their customers’ minds.
