The Slot is an online journal devoted to the study of gambling. It provides a forum for discussion of all aspects of the psychology of slot machine play and betting, with an emphasis on research and methodology. The Slot is published by the Society for the Scientific Study of Gambling and is available to anyone with access to a computer and Internet.
Unlike many other forms of gambling, slot machines deliver instant feedback on the outcome of a spin, and players can experience monetary gains or losses at any time. Further, a large percentage of winning spins occur at the end of a session, while a significant number of losing spins occur during the middle of the session (Ludwig & Schroeder, 2001). The elation and anticipation of these events are augmented by high-fidelity attention-grabbing music and amusing animations (Griffiths & Parke, 2005).
Slot machines are characterized by their allure to gamblers as entertainment and a source of social interaction. Despite their high profitability, some gamblers suffer from severe gambling-related problems such as mounting debt, interpersonal difficulties, and professional challenges (Blaszczynski, Sharpe, Walker, Shannon, & Coughlan, 2005). Understanding how these factors influence slot-machine play is critical for designing effective interventions to reduce the harm caused by gambling.