You might think that switching between multiple casino games would be riskier than sticking to one game per session, but that may not be the case. Contrary to expectations, a recent study suggests that access to multiple slot themes does not increase players’ gambling time compared to those who play only a single game.
Academics from the United Kingdom and Australia conducted the research, which explored whether multiple game themes—like speed of play—could be considered a “harmful ‘structural characteristic'” of slot machines.
Before beginning, the researchers hypothesized that access to multiple slot themes could lead to “greater persistence” among all gamblers, particularly those most at risk. They also predicted players with access to various themes might switch between games during losing stretches rather than potentially step away.
However, while inconclusive, the results indicated that theme choice did not make players, at risk or otherwise, stick around longer or more likely to return. Further, the findings published in the Journal of International Gambling Studies showed players were likelier to stay loyal post-loss than post-win.
While the researchers acknowledged the need for further study, they argued that these initial results suggest that slot variety has little impact on slot habits.
There was no evidence that multiple themes affected slot behavior.
Players appear unaffected by theme variations
As the researchers noted, whether land-based or online, many consider modern slots the “exemplar harmful gambling product” due to traits like speed of play. Previous studies have also identified ‘near-misses’ and ‘losses-disguised-as-wins’ (LDW) as potentially harmful features that can “encourage persistent and therefore harmful gambling.”
What’s missing, the team argued, is an investigation into the impact of game variety on playing habits. Given the variety of themes available—particularly online—further investigation appears justified, they concluded.
For this probe, researchers offered 990 study participants 18 or older the opportunity to earn a bonus fee. Participants could walk away with the extra money outright or risk it on a slot game to earn more.
The offer to half the group reflected a single game theme, while the other half received up to four theme options. For both, each press of the play button led to the next spin in a “predetermined sequence of outcomes,” which remained the same across themes.
Contrary to their central hypothesis, researchers found that participants hung around for about 22 spins in both the single and multi-themed conditions.
Further, researchers found several concerning traits, including being less likely to cash out early, associated with higher problem gambling severity index (PGSI) scores. However, researchers saw no “credible” evidence that high PGSI participants were likely to play longer with access to multiple themes.
So, while common sense might argue that greater slot choice would keep players playing longer, this early evidence suggests no connection.
Additionally, across all models, results showed participants were most likely to leave the game after a win—the opposite of the predicted behavior.
Impact remains unsettled
Despite these findings, the researchers admitted that this study has several limitations.
Chief among the drawbacks was the study’s pre-set sequence, which was less volatile and, therefore, less realistic in terms of ups and downs. Notably, previous research associated low volatility with shorter gambling sessions.
Other challenges acknowledged include ethical limitations and the constrained experiment’s limits on spins and time.
We’d also point out that the four slots in the multi-theme category are identical except for their graphics, unlike realistic slots. Even within themes, slots typically have different features and volatility. As a result, players would notice more differences in real-life games than those offered within the study.
Notably, conventional wisdom tells us not to mix alcohol when imbibing to avoid going overboard.
However, whether we wind up inebriated or sick typically depends more on how much we drink overall than on what combination of things we’re drinking. Still, anecdotal evidence suggests it can be easier to potentially lose count and overdo it when you’re switching things up.
While this research indicated that slot variety did not lead to such overindulgence, the impact of specific game themes, combinations, and mechanics remains unsettled.
In this case, the research team argued for controlled follow-up studies to compare game themes across gambling verticals.
Future research should build on these findings by researching this topic in a more ecologically-valid manner, especially since the provision of multiple themes is used in other gambling products, such as scratchcards and other online casino games.
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