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Realistic Free-Spins Features Increase Preference for Slot Machines

Journal of Gambling Studies volume 33, pages 555–577 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Despite increasing research into how the structural characteristics of slot machines influence gambling behaviour there have been no experimental investigations into the effect of free-spins bonus features—a structural characteristic that is commonly central to the design of slot machines. This series of three experiments investigated the free-spins feature using slot machine simulations to determine whether participants allocate more wagers to a machine with free spins, and, which components of free-spins features drive this preference. In each experiment, participants were exposed to two computer-simulated slot machines—one with a free-spins feature or similar bonus feature and one without. Participants then completed a testing phase where they could freely switch between the two machines. In Experiment 1, participants did not prefer the machine with a simple free-spins feature. In Experiment 2 the free-spins feature incorporated additional elements such as sounds, animations, and an increased win frequency; participants preferred to gamble on this machine. The Experiment 3 “bonus feature” machine resembled the free spins machine in Experiment 2 except spins were not free; participants showed a clear preference for this machine also. These findings indicate that (1) free-spins features have a major influence over machine choice and (2) the “freeness” of the free-spins bonus features is not an important driver of preference, contrary to self-report and interview research with gamblers.

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Acknowledgments

This manuscript was completed with the support of a Victoria University of Wellington Doctoral Scholarship, and a 2014 Te Rau Matatini Problem Gambling Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand

    Lorance F. Taylor, Anne C. Macaskill & Maree J. Hunt

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  1. Lorance F. Taylor
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  2. Anne C. Macaskill
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  3. Maree J. Hunt
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Correspondence to Lorance F. Taylor.

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The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Psychology Human Ethics Committee under delegated authority of Victoria University of Wellington’s Human Ethics Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Taylor, L.F., Macaskill, A.C. & Hunt, M.J. Realistic Free-Spins Features Increase Preference for Slot Machines. J Gambl Stud 33, 555–577 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-016-9630-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-016-9630-x

Keywords

  • Gambling
  • Slot machines
  • Free spins
  • Bonus features
  • EGMs