title: Realistic Free-Spins Features Increase Preference for Slot Machines.
abstract: Despite increasing research into how the structural characteristics of slot machines influence gambling behaviour there have been no experimental investigations into the effect of free-spins bonus features-a structural characteristic that is commonly central to the design of slot machines. This series of three experiments investigated the free-spins feature using slot machine simulations to determine whether participants allocate more wagers to a machine with free spins, and, which components of free-spins features drive this preference. In each experiment, participants were exposed to two computer-simulated slot machines-one with a free-spins feature or similar bonus feature and one without. Participants then completed a testing phase where they could freely switch between the two machines. In Experiment 1, participants did not prefer the machine with a simple free-spins feature. In Experiment 2 the free-spins feature incorporated additional elements such as sounds, animations, and an increased win frequency; participants preferred to gamble on this machine. The Experiment 3 "bonus feature" machine resembled the free spins machine in Experiment 2 except spins were not free; participants showed a clear preference for this machine also. These findings indicate that (1) free-spins features have a major influence over machine choice and (2) the "freeness" of the free-spins bonus features is not an important driver of preference, contrary to self-report and interview research with gamblers.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand. lorance.taylor@vuw.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Lorance F
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7003-380X
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Macaskill
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Maree J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bonus features; EGMs; Free spins; Gambling; Slot machines