Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Gambling Research Lab, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
J Gambl Stud. 2018 Mar;34(1):73-84. doi: 10.1007/s10899-017-9695-1.
Multiline slot machines allow for a unique outcome type referred to as a loss disguised as a win (LDW). An LDW occurs when a player gains credits on a spin, but fewer credits than their original wager (e.g. 15-cent gain on a 20-cent wager). These outcomes alter the gambler's play experience by providing frequent, albeit smaller, credit gains throughout a playing session that are in fact net losses. Despite this negative overall value, research has shown that players physiologically respond to LDWs as if they are wins, not losses. These outcomes also create a "smoother" experience for the player that seems to promote a highly absorbing, flow-like state that we have called "dark flow". Past research has indicated that there may be a relationship between problem gambling status and dark flow, as well as between dark flow, depression, and gambling expectancies. In this study, we sought to further understand these relationships, while examining the influence of LDWs on game preference in the context of single versus multiline slots play. We used a realistic slot machine simulator equipped with a force transducer to measure how hard players pressed the spin button following different outcomes. This measure of arousal showed that LDWs were treated similarly to small wins. Participants overwhelmingly preferred the multiline game and experienced more positive affect while playing it, compared to the single-line game. Problem gambling severity index scores were related to dark flow in both games, but this relationship was stronger for the multiline game. Additionally, depression symptomatology and dark flow were strongly correlated in the multiline game, with significant relationships between depression and gambling expectancy, and gambling expectancy and dark flow ratings also emerging.
多线老虎机允许一种独特的结果类型，称为伪装成赢的输（LDW）。当玩家在一轮中获得积分，但少于原始赌注（例如，20 美分赌注赢得 15 美分）时，就会出现 LDW。这些结果通过在整个游戏过程中提供频繁的、尽管较小的积分收益来改变赌徒的游戏体验，而实际上这些收益是净损失。尽管这种整体价值为负，但研究表明，玩家在生理上对 LDW 的反应就像赢得了一样，而不是输了。这些结果还为玩家创造了一种“更平滑”的体验，似乎促进了一种高度吸引人的、流畅的状态，我们称之为“黑暗流”。过去的研究表明，问题赌博状态与黑暗流之间，以及黑暗流、抑郁和赌博预期之间可能存在关系。在这项研究中，我们试图进一步了解这些关系，同时研究 LDW 在单一线和多线老虎机游戏中对游戏偏好的影响。我们使用了一个配备力传感器的逼真老虎机模拟器来测量玩家在不同结果后按下旋转按钮的力度。这种唤醒程度的测量表明，LDW 与小赢的处理方式相似。与单一线游戏相比，参与者非常喜欢多线游戏，并且在玩游戏时体验到更多的积极情绪。问题赌博严重程度指数得分与两种游戏中的黑暗流有关，但在多线游戏中，这种关系更强。此外，抑郁症状和黑暗流在多线游戏中也呈强相关，抑郁与赌博预期以及赌博预期与黑暗流评分之间存在显著关系。
