The maximum rewards at the minimum price: Reinforcement rates and payback percentages in multi-line slot machines

Harrigan, Kevin; Dixon, Michael J.; MacLaren, Vance V.; Collins, Karen; Fugelsang, Jonathan A.

doi:10.4309/jgi.2011.26.3

Cited by 42 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The noises and jingles that co-occur with wins are known to influence players' preferences for different machines, influence both psychological and physiological arousal, and cause players to overestimate how many times they won (Dixon et al, 2013a). As observed by Harrigan et al (2011), increasing the number of win opportunities increases the frequency with which positive reinforcement of gameplay via auditory and visual feedback associated with wins can be delivered. Thus, our results indicate that the increased frequency of reinforcement cues afforded by LDWs directly increases the overall enjoyment associated with gameplay, despite maintaining a consistent payback percentage and resulting in an objective overall loss.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…When playing these games, regular EGM gamblers often adopt the mini-max strategy, placing the minimum bet on the maximum number of lines, which serves to increase the cost of each spin, and the number of win opportunities. This strategy maximizes the number of LDWs without affecting the actual return to player (Harrigan, Dixon, MacLaren, Collins, & Fugelsang, 2011). In a sample of regular gamblers (including problem gamblers), 94% preferred a multi-line simulator over a structurally equivalent single-line game .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

Sharman

Aitken

Clark

2015

International Gambling Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…By buying extra pay lines, gamblers maximize the chance of obtaining a win in a bet (when there is one) while simultaneously minimizing the probability of missing any winning combination. Although the mini-max strategy increases the positive feedback of a spin, the payback percentage remains the same (Harrigan, Dixon, MacLaren, Collins, & Fugelsang, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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

Leino

Torsheim

Pallesen

et al. 2016

International Gambling Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…the payback percentage) cannot be altered (Harrigan et al 2011), but experienced players may learn to select machines programmed to give the best returns (Dixon et al 2013). Players who choose modern multi-line EGMs cannot alter the payback percentage, but their preference for frequent wins (i.e.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Experienced EGM Players Know How to Control the Reinforcement Rate and Time on Device

MacLaren

2014

J Gambl Stud

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This experiment used motivational instructions to test whether experienced slot machine players are able to manipulate the frequency of winning outcomes and the time taken to deplete funds while playing a popular slot machine game. Twenty-four participants played in four conditions intended to motivate them to play the game as they normally do, to deplete funds quickly, to get a long losing streak, and to avoid getting a bonus round. Compared to how they normally play, participants significantly reduced the number of bought paylines when trying to get losing streaks or avoid bonus rounds. They also wagered significantly more credits per line when trying to deplete their funds quickly. This experiment shows that experienced slots gamblers have an implicit understanding of reinforcement rate and time on device, and that they are able to manipulate these game outputs at will by adjusting the number of paylines they buy and how many credits they choose to wager. When playing normally, they try to maximize reinforcement rate by purchasing the opportunity to win on many paylines. Player control over reinforcement rate and time on device does not alter payback percentage so there is no monetary advantage to manipulating these game outputs.

show abstract

The maximum rewards at the minimum price: Reinforcement rates and payback percentages in multi-line slot machines

Cited by 42 publications

References 14 publications

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

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

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

Experienced EGM Players Know How to Control the Reinforcement Rate and Time on Device

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About