Thursday, September 28, 2017

Hooked: how slot machines are designed to be addictive

(Click on the image for the guardian.com report)
  • Poker machines use a range of design features that leverage psychology to keep people playing. 
  • All of these features combine to make poker machines more appealing to people. While not every player is a gambling addict, one in six people who play the pokies regularly has a serious addiction, according to Australian government statistics.
  • 'I don't think most people understand how addictive these devices can be. They are essentially addictive devices, and they are designed to be so. They are designed the maximise the amount of time and money people put into them.'