The one-armed bandit— a hypnotic, exhilarating, fulfiller of dreams. But what is it about the slot machine that has seen it remain the most popular coin-operated game throughout history? Is it the promise of riches untold or is it the thrill of the chase?
Slots have come a long way since the days of the Liberty Bell over a century ago. From the old fruit machines right up to the present day online variations, slot machines and games have evolved dramatically throughout history. These days, slot apps are even available on your phone, so no matter where you are, you can get your daily dose of slot action.
But to truly understand the lure of the slot, we’re going to have to go deep—and we mean psychologically ‘deep’. You see, for many people, slot machines and video slots take them to their happy place. It’s a familiar style of game that remains constant: spin, spin, spin, win, spin … (you get the idea). But most importantly, they require very little thought while still offering the opportunity to win some pretty incredible cash prizes.
Whether they’re online or in a bricks and mortar casino, slots offer the player a chance to escape from reality for an hour by enjoying the repetitive motions of spinning. And believe it or not, while practically every slot on the planet is all bright flashing lights, music, and loud sound effects, the repetitiveness of the game can be a stress reliever. There’s no need for too much deep thought—just happy and simple ones, like ‘yeah, I won!’ or ‘oh well, try again.’
Now for the physical aspect… Of course, we’re not suggesting that pulling a lever is a good workout, but there is definitely a psychological component to feeling in control of that lever or pushing that button. This only directly applies to real-world slot machines, but the theory is also kind of true with video slots. Being in control of the spin makes us feel like we’re in control of the game. We all know that this isn’t true, but our subconscious tricks us by telling us that if we hit a button a certain way or pull a lever with just the right amount of power, we will indeed win. And guess what? We always listen to our subconscious even when we don’t know it’s telling us to do something.
But there’s one aspect of our love affair with slot machines and video slots that is likely the one true reason why we play them so much: they’re an emotional roller coaster crammed into a few seconds. You feel excitement as you hit spin, anticipation as the first reel stops, and then disappointment when you realize that you need to spin again. Or, if you’re lucky, you’ll feel the pure joy and sense of fulfillment when you get a winning line.
Where else can you find a game with so many emotions crammed into the space of a few seconds? Are there any others? Quite possibly not. Yes, this is the one true reason that slots are (and will always remain) popular. It’s not the money, but the emotions you experience. Yes, it’s true that disappointment is the most common emotion, but aren’t joy and happiness all the sweeter after you’ve tasted defeat? If people won at slots all the time, we can guarantee right now that they would stop playing them. Who wants to play a game that you win all the time, anyways? That being said, now it’s time to go and play some slots. Who’s with us?
