The Effects of Sensory Feedback on Simulated Online Slot Machine Gambling

Objective: A prominent feature of land-based and online slot machines are dynamic visuals and sounds that accompany winning outcomes. Prior work suggests that these features may influence game experience, facilitate immersion, and increase arousal. Additionally, when added to a laboratory gambling task, audiovisual stimuli promoted riskier decision making, but whether this generalizes to realistic gambling products remains unclear. In this pre-registered study, we used a highly realistic slot machine simulator, deployed online, to evaluate the effects of win-accompanying sensory feedback (SF) on gambling experience and behavior. Method: Recruitment allowed comparison of online active gamblers (AG) versus non-gamblers (NG). Participants recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk were randomly assigned to complete 200 spins on a simulator version with either enhanced or diminished SF. Results: enhanced SF resulted in shorter latencies to initiate spins (i.e. faster speed of play), but did not affect bet size or self-reported experience. Relative to NG, AG reported greater game immersion and positive affect during the game, and these variables were also predicted across all participants by greater problem gambling severity and monetary gains in the gambling session. Self-reported immersion and affect were also predicted by ADHD and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: An increased speed of gambling under SF may incur greater losses over time, raising concerns about harm potential, especially considering the appeal of faster speeds for those experiencing gambling problems. Game experience was influenced by monetary outcomes and personal characteristics rather than SF, supporting the notion that both product and personal characteristics confer risk of harm.