The effects of impulsivity and near misses on persistence in play on a slot machine

ABSTRACT

Both personality factors (e.g. impulsivity) and structural game characteristics impact decision-making on games of chance. We examined the relationship between impulsivity and decision-making on a slot machine task programmed with different near-miss frequencies. Fifty-eight college students entered a simulated casino environment and played a slot machine pre-loaded with 30 credits. Unbeknownst to participants, the slot machine was programmed so that several larger wins occurred early in the sequence, followed by a pattern of diminishing returns that reduced credits to zero on a predetermined trial. Participants were randomly assigned to two conditions, the first with up to 19% of trials set as near misses and the second with only 2% as near misses. After controlling for gender, race, and lifetime gambling frequency, the near-miss condition was found to moderate the relationship between impulsivity and the number of trials played. When there were fewer near misses, impulsivity did not appear to impact decision-making. However, when near misses were frequent, individuals with higher impulsivity persisted longer, even when other characteristics of gameplay remained constant (e.g. bet size, prizes). These findings suggest that certain features of slot machines may capitalize on impulsive gamblers’ vulnerabilities and should be regulated.

KEYWORDS:

• Gambling
• impulsivity
• decision-making
• college students
• responsible gambling

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

This research was granted formal ethics approval from an institutional Human Research Ethics Committee. HREC institution: University at Albany Institutional Review Board (IRB); Protocol number: 13-E-108-01.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

James D. Broussard

James D. Broussard is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Jackson State University and a licensed clinical psychologist. His research examines methods to increase access to behavioral health interventions for underserved populations (e.g., minority, low-income, rural) with an emphasis on addictive disorders including behavioral addictions (e.g., gambling disorder).

Stephanie E. Wemm

Stephanie E. Wemm is an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale Stress Center in the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Wemm is a clinical psychologist and researcher who studies laboratory and real-world dynamics of stress-related biopsychosocial processes in alcohol, substance, and behavioral addictions

Shanteria M. Brock

Shanteria M. Brock is a Louisiana native and a graduate of Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where she majored in Psychology for both her BS and MS. She is currently in her second year of Jackson State University’s Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. Her research interests are interpersonal violence, addiction, and underserved populations.

Edelgard Wulfert

Edelgard Wulfert is a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor and a Professor of Psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY. She is a clinical psychologist with research interests in addictive disorders, especially gambling, and factors promoting institutional climate change to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic STEM careers.