The machine still celebrates with lights and sounds, making the player feel like they won, even though they experienced a net loss of 80 cents. Mental Concept
How it's Used in a Casino
Operant Conditioning
Casinos use a "variable-ratio reinforcement schedule." Rewards (wins) are unpredictable, which is highly addictive and casino (kutomba.com) encourages repeated behavior (playing). Rewarding Continued Play
Complimentary items, or "comps," are another powerful psychological tool. The Gambler's Fallacy
A player believes that if a certain outcome (e.g., "red" on roulette) has occurred frequently, casino [121.36.198.49`s recent blog post] the opposite outcome ("black") is "due." In reality, each spin is an independent event. It creates a sense of obligation or casino (121.36.198.49`s recent blog post) reciprocity, encouraging them to stay and casino play longer. Free drinks, meals, show tickets, or hotel rooms make players feel valued and rewarded.
