When playing slot machines is an obsession
If you are struggling with a serious gambling problem and seem to be obsessed with playing slot machines, here are some signs and symptoms that you should be aware of. I have gathered these from the many clients who have shared their struggles with the allure of the slots.
1. You initially loved the excitement of playing slot machines and being at the casino. Now, you play slots to escape worry or emotional pain and it becomes a part of your daily or weekly schedule.
2. Your trips to the casino have progressed over time and seems to be getting more frequent.
3. You gamble more money than planned. You start convincing yourself that you have to recover your losses (chasing your losses), by playing the machine a little longer, because you feel like you are about to win big.
4. You are hiding (lying) about the actual time you sit in front of the slots to family and friends. You are embarrassed to admit to them you might have a problem.
5. You play the machines longer than you intended. You keep telling yourself you will play just a little longer. Quite often that ends up being hours longer.
6. You minimize your losses, and celebrate your winnings by telling those closest to you. You may even share the winnings with those you have deceived. This helps you justify your deceptions of the past.
7. You have obsessive thoughts of getting back to the casino to play a particular machine. You become very crafty or clever with your stories on where you are going.
8. You’ve taken money set aside by you or others for other reasons, and spent it on slot machines.
9. You have a particular game that you play (favorite machine), and are crushed or irritated if you don’t get to play it, because others are on the machine.
10. You find yourself avoiding people who take up a lot of your time. You would rather be left alone and be able to go to play your favorite machine.
Slot machines are the most addictive form of gambling
Slot machines, revamped by ever more compelling digital and video technology, have unseated traditional casino games as the gambling industry's revenue mainstay. Addiction by Design takes readers into the intriguing world of machine gambling, an increasingly popular and absorbing form of play that blurs the line between human and machine.
It’s no wonder slot machine addiction is considered the most addictive form of gambling. For some people, slot machines provide an incredible adrenaline rush. Music can stimulate the senses to an enhanced level of excitement. The fast pace of the displays matched with sight and sounds can cause the body to dance with elation and anticipation. Combine the chance of ‘winning big’ and the total experience provided by the slot machine can become seductive and alluring that matches the level of exhilaration much like that of an anticipated sexual organism.
Help for slot machine addicts
If you have a slot machine addiction, at some point in time, you will replace the anticipated excitement with ‘zoning out’ the world. Shame, regret, fear, despair, and depression set in and you feel trapped and all alone. You conclude there is no hope or help that can get you out of this mess.
Wrong!
The most important thing you can do is get help. The best way to overcome the shame is to walk through it and come out on the other side; moving on with your life. If you don’t face the behavior, things will only get worse. Tell me your experiences? I would love to hear from you.
Coming Soon: I promise to share the actual step-by-step progression of gambling addictions.
Whether you choose to play at an online casino or a brick and mortar establishment, slots are by far the most popular of all casino games. Right from the very start when slots were first introduced to casinos, they proved to be instantly popular. Why? Because slots are easy to play and they are easy to understand. While some casino games like roulette or baccarat require learning and practice, slots can be played right away, making them accessible to anyone.
Technology is also often associated with advancements in gambling. For example, the very first slot machines were extremely simple. They consisted of a wooden box, primitive wooden reels, and real poker cards as symbols. The prizes were very basic, often consisting of a bar of soap, a free beer at the bar, or a pack of gum. Nevertheless, at the time they represented the height of innovation in technology.
Today’s slots are incredibly advanced, featuring everything from bonus rounds and innovative game symbols to touch screen and mobile gaming. One thing is always the common denominator though technology is always driving slots into new realms of excitement and playability.
Online gaming delivers a modern take on the features and how accessible the games are. Not only do online casinos make it fast, simple, and easy to play, but they also attract more land-based gamers by offering higher payout percentages, more game variations, higher progressive jackpots, and gaming features land-based casinos simply can’t keep up with.
Online casinos offer the ultimate in casino gaming convenience, allowing players to access their favorite slots where ever they like. Modern online casinos have become a central hub, offering a range of casino gaming entertainment which is available on multiple platforms, including Instant Play (in-browser) as well as mobile gaming. The best online casinos use the latest security measures to ensure that players always enjoy a rewarding online slots and casino gaming experience.
Let’s have a look at what slots have to offer and why they’ve become so addictive.
It’s All in the Structure
The first and most important fact attributable to modern video slots must be the potential opportunities they provide. Multi payline games offer a much better chance of winning regularly, making it very attractive for good reasons.
If you play at online casinos, you’ll know that games with less than 10 paylines are a lot less common in new releases. In fact, most games are structured with 20 paylines and the new craze is to offer 243 or even 1024 ways to win. Basically, these imply that three or more of the same symbols appearing from left to right is sure to produce a winning combination. Naturally, these benefits are very attractive.
In combination with multiple paylines offering more ways to win, game developers include fantastic bonus features. Older games tend to include a regular wild symbol, a scatter, and sometimes a special feature such as free spins. New games, on the other hand, combine themed bonus features. The wilds don’t just substitute; they shift from one reel to the next, expand, or appear completely at random. When it comes to free spins, new slot games don’t only issue you with a few free spins that you might win from, but these free spins also include levels and special benefits that you can unlock by collecting items, for example. One of the biggest modern-day slot benefits also relates to jackpot winnings, where you have the opportunity to win millions.
So, why are these games addictive?
Well, the answer should be quite clear. Developers of online gaming software find improved ways to deliver advantages that simply make games so much more attractive and exciting. This includes more bonus rounds, with more innovative and rewarding gaming features. For example, newer slots will often feature expanding or sticky wilds, huge bonus multipliers, and exciting additional bonus round games. All of these add up to far more addictive slots gaming, time after time.
Casino games are no longer just about winning; they’ve become an excellent source of entertainment.
Does RNG Determine How Addictive Slots Are?
RNG (Random Number Generator) technology has changed in many ways over the last few decades. These randomizing systems form part of just about all video slots, especially those found at online casinos.
While many may think of an RNG as a way for the casino to keep winning, it’s actually a great system that ensures all the payouts occur at complete random, making it impossible to rig the game in anyone’s favor. This is a benefit for you and the casino. For yours, it ensures the casino cannot rig the results as independent auditors run the games through stringent random tests to ensure fairness via legally required certification. For the casinos, the higher RNG percentage attracts more gamers while also ensuring the game delivers an overall profit.
Well, an RNG system works in a unique way. Sometimes, the return to player rate would be well in your favor, which is when you may receive impressive payouts almost all the time. The period of how long the rate remains in your favor is unknown to everyone, including the casino. Other times it may seem as if you’re spinning away, but only receive a few small wins, barely enough to cover the value of your next spin.
The reason the RNG adds to the addictiveness of a slot is that it challenges you. At times the game would not provide any winnings and suddenly it gives you a massive payout. This becomes a rush, making you feel as if you knew that a win was coming, which is why you keep spinning. RNG is also the system that makes you think “just one more spin” and another after that. While the additional spins are sometimes well worth it, at the end of the day, the RNG system plays a major role, since it adds even more fuel to the reason why these games are addictive.
Are Slots More Addictive at Night?
Since slot games have become a method of relaxation and comfort, studies revealed that most players engage in gaming sessions at night. However, since they are so easily accessible, many tend to enjoy the features and excitement throughout the day, even while at the office.
Since the RNG keeps the rewards random, it’s hard to tell if the game you’re playing will deliver a win at a certain time of day. Therefore, slots have become addictive throughout the day, especially with mobile gaming that allows access anywhere within seconds.
We all know that feeling of walking on the casino floor with a card filled with casino credits. It’s almost as if you need to play the next game you see. The atmosphere on the casino floor is charged with excitement as most players come to play at night after work to unwind and have fun. Well, with online casino games, the same feeling applies, only now you can access them at any time and from anywhere. Therefore, a moment of relaxation or taking a break from work presents an opportunity to “select a game at random.”
Slot Addiction Stories
When you arrive home in the evening and simply want to relax, you may think that the best way to do it is with a few casino games, especially when you have funds in your casino account. Nowadays, weekends at home hold the chance of winning real money, all while you’re relaxing on the couch with your favorite series playing in the background. Mobile and online gaming provide many new advantages, not only with its technology but with convenience as well.
So, the time of day doesn’t really influence when games are most addictive. Instead, it relates to when you have a free moment and the cash in your casino account is itching to gain some more winnings.
Are Online Casinos More Addictive?
Land-based casinos still possess a few benefits of their own, but when it comes to playing more games, gaining extra rewards, and having access to regular new releases, there’s no match when comparing to online casinos.
Firstly, online casinos have an edge when it comes to operational and overhead costs. Unlike land-based casinos, they require far less staff. They don’t necessitate physical gaming machines and they aren’t limited by floor space. That’s why online casinos can offer a much higher payout percentage and still gain a massive overall profit.
To you, the player, this also comes with many benefits. Not only do you gain the opportunity to access the casino without traveling, you can also play all the same or similar games that you would normally find at a land-based casino. In addition, you will also be able to benefit from being exposed to many other, newer games at a much earlier date. Furthermore, online casino promotions are unique, giving you free cash with most of your deposits, which is once again not something a land-based casino can afford to do.
The list of online benefits can stretch for much longer, but you get the idea. Online casinos have a lot more to offer and remain extremely convenient with everything from quick, easy registration to playing games and making withdrawals. Therefore, they’ve become a lot more accessible which makes them more addictive than land-based casinos, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Instead, it should be considered as a benefit, since online establishments feature many great opportunities to enjoy vast gaming entertainment and winning possibilities.
Our Thoughts
Slot Machine Addiction Treatment
Clearly, slots are addictive by pure design and, whether you prefer to play them online or at your favorite brick and mortar casino, you will be able to find something that is tailor-made for your specific needs.
We’ve looked at the effects of RNG’s, time, layout and structure on the addictiveness of slots, as well as the effects of online casino gaming. However, ultimately it really boils down to you, the player knowing your own particular limits and needs so that you can always enjoy a positive and rewarding slots gaming experience.