Every casino game is addictive up to a certain point. Compulsive gambling is an illness that shouldn’t be taken lightly and has already claimed more than a few lives. There is, however, one casino game that’s been described as “addictive as cocaine” by experts – the slot machine.
The popular slots, also known as fruit machines or pokies in Australia, have been a casino staple for a long time. If you haven’t tried one, have a peek at these guys – they offer a variety of fun slots you can enjoy.
People have been spinning the reels of one-armed-bandits in land-based casinos since their invention at the end of the XIX century and there are many reasons why. Slot machines offer quite frequent payouts, more than any other game in a casino and even if you lose, they’re still lots of fun to play. Additionally, the bets are quite lower than what other casino games ask, which makes pokies so enjoyable. However, they are also becoming a problem society shouldn’t ignore.
The Dark Side of Slot Machines
Experts consider pokies a seriously addictive casino game and it’s all in their design. Since the introduction of multi-line slots which offer a higher chance of winning, people have been going crazy over slots. Online slots made thing even worse – they give you a shot at winning big from the comfort of your own home, creating an even bigger addiction. This is something psychologists call “machine zone”, where a player is so immersed in the game they eventually lose track of time, space, and money.
People play slots to get away from all the troubles of life such as anxiety. Even when you spend 50 coins and you get 40, which is a perfect example of a “false win”, the machine registers it as a win and reacts like it. It doesn’t care how much money you’ve ‘fed’ it – you’ve still earned something in return.
The winning sounds and lights the machine produces can instantly make a person feel better. Over time, these ‘false wins’ will become regular, pushing the player to bet more and try their hand at bigger prizes, especially when it comes to progressive slots with massive jackpots. This creates an addiction not unlike alcoholism and drug abuse and is a growing problem society can’t seem to fix. And how could it, when there are literally thousands of online slots available at our fingertips?
What’s the Solution?
As machines with an intricate and purely addictive design, gambling companies and the authorities need to understand that slot machines are not as harmless as they seem. The reality is that they’re here to stay – after all, they’re raking in millions in revenue for casinos, and we’re sure they won’t give up on slots that easily.
In the end, it all comes down to you. You are the master of your own destiny, so as soon as you recognize that you have a gambling problem, you should seek help. There are many organizations that deal with problem gambling and some are even advertised at online casinos. You’ll need support to overcome this problem, so we strongly suggest contacting them. Make no mistake – slot addiction can make your life hell, so get help before you lose everything.
