The Near Miss Dilemma for Online Games: Is It Truth or Myth?
Casino games offer a wide range of activities where gamblers can test their luck. Some of the most popular ones are the slot machines, which have been a part of the casino environment since the end of the 19th century. They have maintained their popularity during digitalization, becoming an intrinsic part of gambling sites and venues alike.
While spinning the reels, bettors have surely landed at least once in their lives an ‘almost win’, also called ‘near miss’. This article will explain what these occurrences are and their effects on the gambler’s brain. In addition, it will debunk the common myth formed around them and present the regulatory limits that prove this.
What Is a Near Miss?
A near miss is the moment when a player lands almost all the symbols needed for a winning combination. To better illustrate this concept, let’s say the bettor plays their free daily spins received from a casino on a 3-reel slot machine with one payline in the middle. The gambler lands 2 jackpot symbols, but the third one lands just below or above the payline.
They concentrate on the ‘almost win’ despite it still being a loss. The payout does not come, but the bettor considers that they are close to landing a lucky spin. The brain perceives them differently from a generic loss, at least psychologically.
The player’s belief is far from the truth, as the near miss is not bringing them any closer to a win. The upcoming sections of this article will talk about the random number generators that are at the base of slot games and why the ‘almost win’ is a myth.
The Effects On The Brain
A 2009 study on gambling near misses reveals that they motivate bettors to keep playing, despite no financial wins. This is due to the fact that these almost losses stimulate the brain in almost the same way a reward would, triggering a release of dopamine.
This means that instead of being disappointed at a loss, the player feels excitement, anticipating an ‘imminent’ win. The gambler will keep betting, counting on the fact that the next spin will land in a more fortunate combination.
The near misses also produce frustration, which, when mixed with the excitement dopamine produces, can lead to continued play. The gamblers may think that ‘completing’ the win after a near miss will ‘solve’ the frustration. This behavior can easily turn into dangerous betting practices that put the players at risk of losing more of their funds than they are ready to.
Random Number Generators
The mechanism that powers slot machines and determines their results is a Random Number Generator, best known as RNG in the industry. It generates a random string of values that guarantees unpredictability through mathematical algorithms. Randomness ensures fairness in games of chance.
Because of the true randomness, each spin has an outcome that is independent of the previous one. If a near miss lands, the next spin is not a guaranteed win. It is as likely to land a winning combination as the one before it, despite what the gambler might think and hope. Any wins registered after a near loss are purely coincidental.
While it is true that the algorithms can be tampered with and become predictable, these situations are unique and identifiable by security systems. There have even been cases in which the gambling platform tried to influence the visual output of games through secondary algorithms that land more near misses than the game normally would.
Regulatory Limits
The previous case is no longer a concern, as many jurisdictions have adopted regulations prohibiting casinos from showing a higher percentage of almost-wins than the RNG would normally deliver.
The first such case was in 1989 in Nevada, USA, when the state banned secondary decision algorithms that selected a near miss after a losing outcome had already occurred. This only marks the beginning of regulatory limitations that will stop casinos from cheating their clients.
The UK Gambling Commission’s technical standards require licensed casinos to display the outcome reflected by the RNG on screen, rather than a display choice decided by a secondary mechanism. Australian authorities require standard limits on the ratio of certain symbols landing per reel.
Unlike Nevada’s legislation, these authorities don’t ban the artificial near misses outright. They constrain the math that can produce them, ensuring they are not possible. This is how they keep players safe and games fair.
Conclusion
RNGs are at the base of slot games, making predictability impossible when it comes to spins. Any landing win is a coincidence, independent of any previous results. Near misses are a real psychological phenomenon that makes gamblers hold on to the hope of winning, even though the high probability they evoke when encountering near losses is a myth.
These ‘almost had it’ moments have an impact on the player’s brain. They make gamblers keep betting even if they don’t win, leading to erratic behavior and dangerous play. Bettors need to stay safe by playing responsibly and setting strict boundaries for their gambling sessions.