It’s hard to deny that there is an addictive quality to spinning the reels of your favorite slot games. And it goes beyond the idea that the next spin could result in winning that huge jackpot you’re hoping for. There’s something in the mechanism that players find mesmerizing that makes them want to continue playing.
Sure, this same persistence can and frequently does result in winning big. Moreover, the dopamine rush you get from such an occasion is enough to keep you coming back for more. These days, dating apps are cluing into the formats of casinos and social networks to keep you swiping endlessly. There’s always something better, the ultimate match or “bigger prize”.
It begs the question, whether most people are using such apps to truly find their match. Or are they simply hooked on the rush of dopamine it provides? Experts in the field believe it’s the latter and have good reason to believe that many of the most popular dating apps are copying the theory of slot machines to keep users coming back.
You’re Taking a Gambling When You Swipe
Much like spinning the reels at your favorite Woocasino slot game. When you swipe on a dating app, you’re taking a gamble at who will appear next. Will it result in someone you like, or will you swipe again hoping for a better result.
This draws an undeniable parallel between pulling the levers and waiting in anticipation for the result. When you swipe left or right, you’re either one step closer to finding your match or you’ve eliminated a result that also puts you closer to finding your match. The same psychology goes into playing any type of betting game.
You Believe That Eventually Your Efforts Will Pay Off
If slot players didn’t believe that at some point their efforts will lead to something big, they would give up after a few unsuccessful spins. Although, many understand exactly how these games work and that each spin is completely random. They still feel that they must put in a certain amount of work to end up winning big.
The same goes for dating apps which leave the user with the feeling that they are putting in the necessary effort to earn the right match.
There’s also the element of uncertainty that makes the action even more appealing. Combine that with the fact that most of us operate on increasingly smaller attention spans thanks to the use of social media and instant gratification. And what you have is the exact same rush as you get winning at a betting game or simply being in the casino environment.
Conclusion
It’s probably not exactly accurate that casinos purposely use the same model as slot machines when creating their interface. However, the similarities are glaringly obvious. Leaving little doubt that the notifications, sounds when you match, and other satisfactory indications are bound to hook even the most casual user of the app.