Misinterpreting ‘winning’ in multiline slot machine games

Jensen, Candice; Dixon, Mike J.; Harrigan, Kevin; Sheepy, Emily; Fugelsang, Jonathan A.; Jarick, Michelle

doi:10.1080/14459795.2012.717635

Cited by 46 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…It has also been found that LDWs are physiologically more arousing than losses and similar to small real wins (Dixon et al, 2010). Additionally, individuals appear to overestimate their number of wins by miscategorizing LDWs as real wins (Jensen et al, 2013). Accordingly, individuals reportedly enjoy LDW games more than non-LDW games (Sharman et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This indicates that gambling experiences potentially mediate the relationship between LDWs and gambling behaviour. It has been shown that LDWs influence gambling-related perceptions and cognitions as individuals who experience more frequent LDWs both overestimate the number of wins they experience as well as reportedly misclassifying LDWs as regular wins (Jensen et al, 2013). Furthermore, individuals appear to enjoy LDW games more than non-LDW games (Sharman, Aitken, & Clark, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An empirical real-world study of losses disguised as wins in electronic gaming machines

Leino

Torsheim

Pallesen

et al. 2016

International Gambling Studies

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Losses disguised as wins (LDWs) appear to reinforce gambling persistence. However, little research has examined this phenomenon with real gamblers in natural gambling settings. We aimed to examine the relationship between within-session outcome size and subsequent gambling persistence. Account-based gambling data of individuals playing LDW games over a randomly selected day (2,035,339 bets made by 8636 individuals) was examined. We used a logistic mixed effects model to examine the relationship between the outcome of the previous bet (loss, LDW and real wins) and the odds of continuing betting in a game session. The odds of continuing betting in a game session were positively associated with the outcome of the previous bet. Compared to LDWs, losses lowered the odds of continuing a game session. In contrast, real wins implied greater odds of continuing a game session compared to LDWs. It is concluded that LDWs increase the likelihood of continuing betting compared to losses, but decrease the likelihood of continuing to gamble compared to real wins. As LDWs increase the number of bets made within a gambling session, and hence within-session gambling persistence, LDWs may potentially play an etiological role in the development of gambling problems over time.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An empirical real-world study of losses disguised as wins in electronic gaming machines

Leino

Torsheim

Pallesen

et al. 2016

International Gambling Studies

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“…Graphics and sounds were important in that they added to the experience via their associations with the win-and bet-related characteristics (Delfabbro et al, 2005;Loba et al, 2002. ) and acted to disguise losses as wins Jensen, et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…EGMs have programmed variations to the payout magnitude, with large jackpots, much more frequent very-small wins, and characteristics such as freespins. Multiple playable lines add yet another dimension that can affect EGM outcomes and gambler behaviour (e.g., Harrigan, Dixon, & Brown, 2015;Jensen, Dixon, Harrigan, Sheepy, Fugelsang, & Jarick, 2013;Templeton, Dixon, Harrigan, & Fugelsang, 2015). These more sophisticated variants of simple schedules add additional levels of complexity to the behaviour of both EGMs and gamblers, likely meaning very high rates of gambler behaviour that is very resistant to intervention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electronic Gaming Machine Characteristics: It’s the Little Things That Count

Landon

Preez

Page

et al. 2016

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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A range of gamblers, from low-frequency social gamblers through to problem gamblers in treatment, participated in focus groups discussing the characteristics of Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) that they found attractive. Analyses of the resulting transcripts resulted in two groups of EGM characteristics being identified as important, one group associated with winning and one with betting. Overall, free spin features were identified in all groups as the most attractive characteristic of EGMS. Beyond that it was smaller win-related characteristics, and low-denomination machines with multiple playable lines that were associated with increased duration and intensity of gambling behaviour. The important characteristics were consistent across different levels of gamblers, with the key behavioural difference being a self-reported 'expertise', and 'strategic' approach to gambling amongst higher-frequency gamblers and problem gamblers in treatment. The key characteristics all occur frequently and result in more wins and extended gambling sessions. The patterns identified resonated with established behavioural principles, and with models describing the development of problem gambling and addictions more generally.Keywords: gambling, problem gambling, electronic gaming machines, game characteristics, qualitative Electronic gaming machine characteristics: It's the little things that countThe core characteristic underlying Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) is a variation on a simple schedule of reinforcement, a variable-or random-ratio schedule (Skinner, 1953;Ferster & Skinner, 1957). In their simplest form, variable-ratio schedules specify that a reinforcer (in the case of EGMs, a win or related characteristic) is delivered after an average number of responses (plays). These schedules reliably create a very high and consistent rate of responding. This pattern of behaviour is very robust, and most importantly resistant to extinction (i.e., the behaviour persists for very long periods in the absence of any payout) or other independent variables/interventions. However, the schedules underlying EGMs are more complex than those used in basic research (e.g., Griffiths, 1993). EGMs have programmed variations to the payout magnitude, with large jackpots, much more frequent very-small wins, and characteristics such as freespins. Multiple playable lines add yet another dimension that can affect EGM outcomes and gambler behaviour (e.g., Harrigan, Dixon, & Brown, 2015;Jensen, Dixon, Harrigan, Sheepy, Fugelsang, & Jarick, 2013;Templeton, Dixon, Harrigan, & Fugelsang, 2015). These more sophisticated variants of simple schedules add additional levels of complexity to the behaviour of both EGMs and gamblers, likely meaning very high rates of gambler behaviour that is very resistant to intervention. In the gambling context, this means gamblers are likely to spend more time and money in any given gambling session than they initially intended. Delfabbro and Winefield (1999) used a similar methodology to observe a sample of regular a...

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“…The LDW response is similar in magnitude to the response to actual wins (Dixon, Harrigan, Sandhu, Collins, & Fugelsang, 2010) and also generates a 'post reinforcement pause', which is seen as a consummatory response to reward . In a notable study, Jensen et al (2013) found that LDWs were verbally miscategorized as wins, and that players' estimates of the number of wins after the game were higher when they were exposed to more LDWs. This mis-categorization of LDWs as normal wins (presumably because of the equivalent sensory feedback) serves to reduce the length of unbroken loss streaks and increase the frequency of reinforcement (every 2.1 spins, versus 6.5 spins in a single-line game), whilst the average proportion of stake that is returned to the player through wins (the payback percentage) remains the same .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dual effects of ‘losses disguised as wins’ and near-misses in a slot machine game

Sharman

Aitken

Clark

2015

International Gambling Studies

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Individually, both near-misses and losses disguised as wins (LDWs) have been seen to exert pro-motivational effects on gambling. However, it is not clear whether both structural characteristics are effective within the same game. Participants (n ¼ 40) played a slot machine simulation. The simulation delivered near-misses, wins and 'fullmisses'. Half the participants also received LDWs that occurred independently of the outcomes on the payline. Valence and motivation ratings were collected after each round. Results showed that the LDW group reported increased valence ratings compared to the no-LDW group. Within the LDW group, trials with LDWs also resulted in increased enjoyment compared to trials without LDWs. We distinguished near-misses falling either side of the payline. Near-misses before the payline (NMB) were rated as more motivational than near-misses after the payline (NMA), whereas NMAs were rated as more aversive than NMBs. These differences between the two near-miss types were exacerbated by LDWs. Results demonstrate LDWs increase the trial-by-trial enjoyment of non-win outcomes. The motivational and hedonic effects of near-misses differed for events either side of the payline, and these differences were exaggerated by the presence of LDWs. Thus, near-misses can retain their effectiveness in complex forms of gambling that also deliver LDWs.

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Misinterpreting ‘winning’ in multiline slot machine games

Cited by 46 publications

References 23 publications

An empirical real-world study of losses disguised as wins in electronic gaming machines

An empirical real-world study of losses disguised as wins in electronic gaming machines

Electronic Gaming Machine Characteristics: It’s the Little Things That Count

Dual effects of ‘losses disguised as wins’ and near-misses in a slot machine game

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