Slot Play Is More Addictive When Machines Have Human-Like Intentions

by Sarah Lewis on 2015/10/08

According to a new research led by Paulo Riva from the University of Milano-Bicocca and published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, slot machines are more tempting and addictive when they have human like intentions. The unexplored factor here is called anthropomorphism or the problem of playing slots longer when we think of them as intentional adversaries. Participants in this research were asked to read the game instructions and how their RNG works and then play the game. Those that perceived slots as machines that are solely responsible for whether to pay players or not, often played slots longer. Personified slots also encouraged longer play despite paying cash to players.