We decided to try playing an online simulator of a slot machine to experience firsthand the stimulation that people experience when playing slots. You can find the web site with the online simulator here. This simulator closely approximates the behavior of a real slot machine, and is thus a good way to study the design elements of slot machines that make them attractive to gamblers.

External design

As an online simulator, the external design of the machine is less important. However, the virtual slot machine is still carefully designed to be aesthetically pleasing, and has a prominent chart showing the hierarchy of reel combinations and possible payouts. It features lit buttons and what we found to be a somewhat soothing, hypnotizing sound as the reels are spinning. Moreover, the sound that is played when coins are bet is the same as the sound played when coins are won in a payout, which probably helps make a more positive association with betting more coins.

Internal design elements

Just like a real slot machine, we found that the online simulator had a very high frequency of "near misses." Nearly every one in four reel spins had two of the same symbol, and the third matching symbol just slightly off on third reel. This is precisely the technique used in real slot machines to keep people addicted—it creates the illusion that you have "almost" won. In addition, small payouts happened with surprising frequency, replenishing the pool of available money and keeping the game dynamic.

We found that it was, in fact, quite easy get roped into the game. The action of pressing the "bet" button becomes almost mechanical and compulsive, and the frequent near misses and small payouts made it hard to lose interest. It is certainly set up very carefully to make people want to keep betting over and over. Having never played slot machines before, it gave us some good insight into how gamblers become addicted to gambling, and how slots take advantage of some of our most basic and innate psychology. This was certainly not a completely realistic experience, but it approximates the true behavior of slot machines closely enough to give a good demonstration of a slot machine's internal design elements and how they function.

Navigation

History of Slot Machines

Tracing Technology and its Effects on Slot Machines

The Psychology of the Slot Machine

Analysis of Casino Design

Casinos and Economics

Social Implications

$pringfield: Gambling and Slot Machines in Popular Culture

Current page: Our Experience with an Online Slot Machine Simulator

The Slot Machine: Concluding Remarks

Back to main page: The Slot Machine