Here is Some Science Behind Why People Like to Gamble
If someone mentions casino games, what is the first thing which pops into your head? For many others and me, I immediately think about how casino games always give the advantage to the casino ahead of the player who is actually dedicating their time to playing the game. Indeed, it is no secret that casino games are always edged in the favour of the casino. Yet, this does not stop millions of gamblers from playing them. Why? This Untamed Science blog takes a look at the reasons behind it!
Of course, it goes without saying that addiction plays a part here. However, British researchers determined that the rate of addiction among gamblers is between 0.7% – 2.7%. In addition, gamblers often know before playing that the odds are stacked against them, so what is it about casino games and games of chance in general which appeals to people?
Excitement and the Chance to Win
Undoubtedly, the number one attraction of casino games is the opportunity of winning money. Despite the fact that the games are favoured towards the casino, they are still games of chance and some of the players do win some of the time. Add to this that many casino games are genuinely fun to play, and it is not difficult to see the appeal.
Let’s take a look at Monopoly Live as an example of a modern and exciting online casino game. The games developers, Evolution Gaming, would have done their utmost during the design and testing process to create a game which was both as visually as appealing as possible whilst also ensuring that if a player does play the game, they will enjoy it enough to play it again. In addition, they have worked with a well-known British brand – Parker Brothers. Why did they do this? Well, the pessimist will tell you it is so they can create greater trust with their potential clients. Almost everyone knows about and has probably played the Monopoly board game, so by creating a casino game around Monopoly, they immediately help to establish trust. From an opposite viewpoint, the casino knows that the Monopoly brand appeals to British players, and they want their players to have an enjoyable gaming experience which they feel a Monopoly themed game will bring. Either way, the band is attractive.
Add to the visual appeal a game which is genuinely exciting to play and you have already ticked two boxes for creating a successful casino game. The final box for any casino game developer is allowing the opportunity for any player the chance of winning money through playing Monopoly Live. After taking a look at the stats behind the game, we can see that the Monopoly Live maximum payout is capped at £500,000 – a life-changing sum of money for most people. Now, such a payout will be extremely rare, minutely rare even. However, the chance is there which is attractive to people. The National Lottery offers the exact same attraction.
Evaluating Chance – RTP and Maximum Payouts
All casino games come with two vital statistics – a Return to player (RTP) percentage and a maximum potential payout. These two stats essentially tell the player how much he can expect to win and how much he can potentially win. The return to player stat sums of what the player will win over an infinite number of hands. To take the example of Monopoly Live again, it has a theoretical RTP of 96.23%. This means that for every £100 a player bets on Monopoly Live, they will win back £96.23. This statistic is worked out if one player plays millions upon millions of betting rounds. The RTP is what gives casinos the edge.
The maximum potential payout is basically a description of the maximum which can be won on any specific casino game. As aforementioned, Monopoly Live has a max payout of £500,000 – as you can imagine, this is very appealing to anyone who plays. It also created a dream in their mind, a dream which says to them, if you play this game you could win £500,000 if luck is on your side. Of course, the chances of winning the maximum are based on random statistics, and are slim to say the least.
It’s Not All Luck – Strategies
Of course, there are some games which do have an element of skill to them which offers a different kind of appeal. Studying and reading about games such as Poker and Blackjack will ensure that the player gains a better understanding of game plays which are more likely to win money in the long run. There will always be an element of luck involved, but if a player is doing the ‘correct move’ over 99% of the time, this will ensure that they win as much as possible.
Blackjack strategies are widely available online, and to go back to our Monopoly Live example, there are plenty of Monopoly Live strategy guides too. In fact, most live dealer casino games can be played using certain strategies which can increase the odds of winning. It is only really slot machines which rely purely on luck, although to say casino games never rely on luck is incorrect, of course.
Casino Games are Built for Attraction and This Will Never Change
Casino games are designed to be attractive. Nobody wants to play an unappealing game in general, never mind a casino game. In 2023, the biggest casino developers are Evolution Gaming. This company has taken the whole online casino industry to a new level. Some of their latest live casino games are based on live game show games and have become incredibly popular.
In addition, even the simplest casino games – online slot machines – are designed to be as appealing as possible. Modern slot machines have incredible graphics and are often themed around pop culture. For example, you can play Peaky Blinder themed slots as well as others based on popular TV shows including a Narcos slot and even a game based on Gordon Ramsey.
Clearly this is no coincidence. Developers know that they need to create appealing games in order to get players playing them – it’s as simple as that.
