Random-ratio schedules of reinforcement: The role of early wins and unreinforced trials

Haw, John

doi:10.4309/jgi.2008.21.6

Cited by 49 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This increase in the potential rate of reinforcement would occur in parallel to a reduced probability of standard losses, leading to fewer perceived losing streaks on average. This increased frequency of LDWs may therefore disrupt extinction effects, or attenuate the aversive effect that consecutive losses may otherwise have on play (Haw, ). The aforementioned analysis of player account data in Norway supports this hypothesis.…”

Section: The Science Of Ldwsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research into the design of slot machines, a pervasive and widely familiar subcategory of EGMs, has identified how certain features of modern slot machines, may contribute to the high intensity of this form of gambling. These design features include: the effects of the random ratio reinforcement schedule (Turner & Horbay, ; Haw, ), the speed of play (Harris & Griffiths, ), near‐miss events (Murch & Clark, ; Barton et al ., ), free spins (Taylor et al ., ), or features such as stop buttons that foster an illusion of control (Harrigan et al ., ; Murch & Clark, ). This set of features likely work in tandem to intensify reinforcement and encourage the extended and repeat play that supports gambling revenue (Yücel et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cognitive neuroscience can support public health approaches to minimise the harm of ‘losses disguised as wins’ in multiline slot machines

Myles

Carter

Yücel

2018

Eur J of Neuroscience

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Video slot machines are associated with both accelerated transition into problematic forms of gambling, as well as psychosocial harm above and beyond other forms of gambling. A growing body of evidence is uncovering how key design features of multiline slot machines produce an inflated experience of reward, despite the fact that these features offer no overall financial benefit to the player. A pernicious example of this are ‘losses disguised as wins’ (LDWs), which occur when simultaneous bets placed on multiple lines result in a winning combination that returns an amount greater than zero, but less the total wager. These events are usually accompanied by the same celebratory sounds and animations that accompany true wins. We argue that LDWs may leverage neuropsychological phenomena that underlie reinforcement learning and contribute to extended or repetitive use and gambling‐related harm. While other characteristics of slot machine gambling have been examined by cognitive neuroscientists, this feature has not yet received attention. Neuroscientific methods can be used to assess the impact of LDWs on the human reward system, to assess the claim that these events are a reinforcing and contributing factor in the development of harmful play. Positive findings would provide further persuasive evidence in support of strategies to minimise gambling harm through the regulation of machine design.

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Section: The Science Of Ldwsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive neuroscience can support public health approaches to minimise the harm of ‘losses disguised as wins’ in multiline slot machines

Myles

Carter

Yücel

2018

Eur J of Neuroscience

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“…Multi-line betting is popular among gamblers (Haw, 2008). The number of pay lines, but not bet multiplication, is a predictor of average bet size (Haw, 2009 gamblers use a mini-max strategy (Livingstone & Woolley, 2008), playing minimum credits on the maximum number of pay lines.…”

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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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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“…Modern commercial games are increasingly complex, combining many different structural characteristics in the same game (Dow Schüll, 2012). Laboratory studies with simplified EGM 'simulations' provide an important means of delineating the behavioural effects of individual structural characteristics in a controlled environment, such as immediacy of reward (Chóliz, 2010), the role of early wins and unreinforced trials (Haw, 2008), and the relationship between big wins and gambling persistence (Weatherly, Sauter, & King, 2004).…”

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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Random-ratio schedules of reinforcement: The role of early wins and unreinforced trials

Cited by 49 publications

References 20 publications

Cognitive neuroscience can support public health approaches to minimise the harm of ‘losses disguised as wins’ in multiline slot machines

Cognitive neuroscience can support public health approaches to minimise the harm of ‘losses disguised as wins’ in multiline slot machines

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

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

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