The Psychology of the Near Miss

If you have ever played a digital slot, you have definitely felt the phenomenon of the « Near Miss. ». It is that incredibly intense and exciting event when the first two reels line up the bonus symbols, and the final column teases you. The sound effects get louder, you hold your breath, and then… If you loved this article so you would like to get more info concerning 9pokies casino app please visit our website. the final jackpot symbol misses the line by a fraction. You lost the bet. Statistically, it is the exact same loss as if the screen had shown three completely random, mismatched symbols. Mentally, however, it feels like a victory. You feel incredibly close to wealth, and you immediately press the spin button again. This psychological breakdown will explore the mental trickery of the near miss and how it drains your bankroll.

How Your Brain Reacts

To grasp the trick, you have to look at the brain. When you win a game, your brain gives you a chemical reward, which makes you feel incredible. Logically, losing should trigger the opposite reaction.

The Brain Cannot Tell the Difference

However, gambling researchers have discovered a fascinating glitch in our brains.

• When you experience a « near miss » in a game of chance, your brain actually releases a surge of dopamine that is almost identical to the surge of an actual win
• Your brain thinks the jackpot is imminent
• The near miss forces you to spin again

You feel a rush for losing your money.

Programming the Near Miss

Casinos and slot machine developers know exactly how this works. They realize that a gambler who experiences frequent near misses will spend much more money than someone who never gets close. Therefore, modern video slots are specifically coded to force near misses to happen than would occur by natural, pure randomness.

1. The Random Number Generator (RNG) decides you have lost the moment you press spin
2. The graphics are a show
3. The near miss is a programmed animation

In conclusion, the near miss is an incredibly effective tools in the casino’s arsenal. The next time you see that third bonus symbol miss by an inch, stop and think. Tell your brain that the machine is tricking you. You lost the millisecond you pressed the button, and the animation was simply a movie designed specifically to manipulate your brain chemistry.</p