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The Magic of the Slots
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What is the mystique of the one-armed bandit? What is it about it that makes us
keep hitting the button and hanging on to see what the next spin will bring? Although
it's pretty common knowledge that there are better ways to beat the house, this
is the one game that makes players go on and on and come back for more. Why?
As casino players, even though the online
slot machines take up a lot of our play time, it seems that we never took
the time to unveil the mystery of its appeal. Let's take a closer look at this
game and the interaction we experience during play.
 Whenever we try to crack the secret behind the success
of a certain product, company, or individual, we usually look for a rational
reason. For example, a chain store succeeds thanks to low prices, a car becomes
popular for its performance and safety, and blackjack games are well liked because
the players can significantly improve their payoffs through strategy. But when
it comes to slots, it looks like there is no rational foundation to its mass
popularity: The only game strategy we know is based on quitting while you're
ahead, the payoff percentages are lower than table games and video poker games,
and sometimes we get too lazy to click that button every few seconds! So…
what's the secret?
It's not about rational well thought out logic. It's about the experience of
the game that takes us back to a more impulsive and self-indulging time, back
when we used to spend most of our day just playing around and having fun.
How can an online slot take us back to that happy place? After watching many
players in brick and mortar casinos from around the world, I can say that the
slot machine experience is based on three psychological, physical, and emotional
factors, that combine into a unique event that doesn't happen in other casino
games. We can find any of these factors in other games, but not together. Behold
the alchemy:
It's Psychological
Slot machines require very (and I mean very) little thought. It's brain therapy,
or a mental massage if you like, to clear our mind of all our grown-up worries.
No card counting, no calculations, no rules, no fuss, just pure fun and games.
Here we simply roll with it, play it out as it comes, as careless as we want.
And then we win (with little effort on our side, let's admit it…) and
suddenly the machine congratulates us in all sorts of cool ways like getting
applause or even a bow from a character in the game, complete with horns, confetti,
fireworks, or whatever the designers thought of. Well, you never see a dealer
clapping you on a nice bet in a table game, and it sure is nice to feel appreciated…
 It's
Physical
In an offline casino, slot machines are pretty much the only game where the
players dominate the game without the interference of a dealer, other players,
or anyone to remind us that we're grown ups. This also helps us feel in control
over the machine and the main cause of endless superstitions regarding the right
way to tilt the bandit's arm or hitting the button. In online casinos, video
slots are the most colorful and imaginative games, with funny themes and amazing
graphics that make our senses come alive, just like the old video games we grew
up with. And when you win it gets even more dazzling, and everybody likes pretty
moving pictures. Isn't that why they invented television?
It's Emotional
Playing slot games brings to the surface all our secret beliefs about luck and
fate. Specifically because this is the most random game, we tend to project
our feelings and superstitions on the outcome, and ascribe all kind of mystical
meanings to our winnings. And let's not forget the jackpot. Blackjack makes
us work hard for our money, but the slot machine is just waiting to pour its
fortune on us in one big bang. In a single spin of a slot you can earn increase
your money ten times and much more than that, and even multiply your bet 10000
times! And you can win several times in one play session. Knowing in our hearts
that we're lucky, having this dream to strike it big so at hand – this
wish and this thrill, these are the fuels that keep us running.
Should it really matter why slots are so compelling? After all it's the freedom
that the game offers us that makes it so alluring; The freedom of play, the
freedom to dream, and of course, the kind of freedom only a chunky jackpot can
give.
Tags: slots articles
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