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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Original Paper

Losses Disguised as Wins Affect Game Selection on Multiline Slots

Authors: Candice Graydon, Madison Stange, Mike J. Dixon

Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies | Issue 4/2018

Abstract

Multiline slots are exciting games that contain features which make them alluring. One such feature is a loss disguised as a win (LDW); wherein, players win less than they wager (e.g., bet 2 dollars, win back 50 cents), but this net loss is disguised by flashing graphics and winning sounds. Research to date concludes that LDWs are both rewarding and reinforcing. Here, we investigated whether LDWs affect players’ game selection. Thirty-two undergraduate students with experience playing slot machines played 100 spins on four games—two had positive payback percentages (115%) and two had negative payback percentages (85%) after 100 spins. For each payback percentage condition, there was a game with no LDWs and a game with a moderate number of LDWs. For the 100 spins, players could choose to play whichever game they wished. They then rated their preference for each game following the 100-spins and chose a game to continue playing. The majority of players preferred playing the positive payback percentage game with LDWs and chose to continue playing this game over the three other games. We conclude that in addition to LDWs being reinforcing and rewarding, LDWs do in fact influence game selection. We conclude that responsible gambling initiatives should educate players about LDWs.

Several measures were taken that were peripheral to this study. Subjective mood and arousal (Bradley and Lang 2004) were taken prior to the 100 spin session, following the 100 spin session, and following the persistence spins. Desire to gamble (Young et al. 2008) and gambling urge (Raylu and Oei 2004b) were measured at the same 3 time-points. Prior to the gambling session, we administered the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21; Lovibond and Lovibond 1995; Henry and Crawford 2005); Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson et al. 1988; Crawford and Henry 2004); Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS; Raylu and Oei 2004a); and Gambling Motivation Scale (GMS; Chantal et al. 1994). Following the gambling session, we administered the Game Experience Questionnaire (Poels et al. 2007) Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI; Pacini and Epstein 1999); Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT; Frederick 2005); Actively Open-Minded Thinking scale (AOT; Stanovich and West 1997); Adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS; Kessler et al. 2005); and the Attention Related Cognitive Errors Scale (ARCES; Carriere et al. 2008).

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Title: Losses Disguised as Wins Affect Game Selection on Multiline Slots
Authors: Candice Graydon
Madison Stange
Mike J. Dixon
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gambling Studies / Issue 4/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3602
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-018-9773-z

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