NYT columnist Randall Stross, briefly reviews Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas and claims the shift in gambling to screen-based games increases addiction. The random-number generator at the heart of the electronic slot machines is neither visible nor well understood by many players. Some machines allow players to choose the exact moment when [...]
Near Miss
The most sophisticated place in the world for convincing us to part with our money is Wall Street. Vegas, however, is not far behind. Vegas has convinced us that not only is throwing away money “fun” but flying somewhere to do so makes it more fun. Here are some of the psychological tactics that Vegas [...]
Studies have shown that people who play games of chance, such as slot machines or the lottery, often mistakenly believe some level of skill is required to win. This illusion of control often pushes players to continue. The findings below indicate that near-miss outcomes may elicit a dopamine response in the most severe gamblers, despite [...]
