New Measures of Reward Reactivity in Slot Games

Slot is a game where the players spin the reels and try to get matching symbols in a row. The more matching symbols they have, the more money they win. There are many different types of slots and each one has its own theme and rules. Some of them even have different jackpots.

To play a slot machine, the player inserts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a slot and then presses a button to activate the reels. A random number generator then determines whether or not a player has won. The symbols vary from machine to machine, but classic symbols include fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. The pay table is usually displayed on the machine’s screen, above and below the area containing the reels. In older machines, the pay table is listed on the front of the machine, while in video slot games it is usually contained within a help menu.

Unlike other psychophysiological measures involving cumbersome electrodes and wires (which reduce ecological validity), the two new measures of reward reactivity reported here are designed to be unobtrusive and easy to use. These measures are a welcome addition to the suite of tools available for studying gambling behavior. Moreover, they may provide an effective alternative to expensive and labor-intensive psychophysiological techniques for assessing how much players enjoy their slot play. The findings from these simple, unobtrusive measures indicate that arousal is an important factor in the enjoyment of slot play.

Related Posts