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Comparative Study
. 2014 Dec;30(4):913-29.
doi: 10.1007/s10899-013-9391-8.

The impact of sound in modern multiline video slot machine play

Mike J Dixon  1 , Kevin A Harrigan, Diane L Santesso, Candice Graydon, Jonathan A Fugelsang, Karen Collins
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The impact of sound in modern multiline video slot machine play

Mike J Dixon et al. J Gambl Stud. 2014 Dec.

Erratum in

  • J Gambl Stud. 2014 Dec;30(4):931

Abstract

Slot machine wins and losses have distinctive, measurable, physiological effects on players. The contributing factors to these effects remain under-explored. We believe that sound is one of these key contributing factors. Sound plays an important role in reinforcement, and thus on arousal level and stress response of players. It is the use of sound for positive reinforcement in particular that we believe influences the player. In the current study, we investigate the role that sound plays in psychophysical responses to slot machine play. A total of 96 gamblers played a slot machine simulator with and without sound being paired with reinforcement. Skin conductance responses and heart rate, as well as subjective judgments about the gambling experience were examined. The results showed that the sound influenced the arousal of participants both psychophysically and psychologically. The sound also influenced players' preferences, with the majority of players preferring to play slot machines that were accompanied by winning sounds. The sounds also caused players to significantly overestimate the number of times they won while playing the slot machine.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Screen shot from slots machine simulator
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Average inter-beat intervals for the four gambling groups for each of the slot machine outcomes. Lo-Freq NPGs low frequency non-problem gamblers, Hi-Freq NPGs high frequency non-problem gamblers, Moderate-Risk moderate risk gamblers, PGs problem gamblers
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The heart-period for the inter-beat intervals just prior to outcome delivery, and for the four interbeat intervals following outcome delivery
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Skin conductance response amplitudes for slot machine outcomes in the sound-on and sound-off conditions as a function of outcome delivery
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Gamblers’ estimates of how many spins (out of 200) on which they won more than they wagered. The actual number of wins within each of the 200-spin blocks was 28
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
The average win estimates for low frequency non-problem gamblers (Lo-Freq NPG), high frequency non-problem gamblers (Hi-Freq NPG), Moderate-Risk and problem gamblers (PGs)
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