Slot machines have features, like audiovisual cues, that can increase the risk of developing problem gambling. In this study, the researchers looked at how audiovisual cues during slot machine gambling influence “immersion”—a state of consciousness that involves a dissociation from the self and one’s surroundings, as well as an altered perception of time.
A total of 155 university students completed an in-person simulated multi-line slot machine task. They were placed into one of three conditions that differed on the intensity of audiovisual cues shown during wins: Minus, Intermediate, or Plus. They then filled out questionnaires assessing immersion and emotional state during the task, mental health symptoms, and ADHD symptoms.
Having more severe gambling issues was related to greater immersion during the slot machine task. Female participants in the Intermediate condition reported greater immersion than those in the other two conditions. No differences in immersion were found for men across the three conditions. Among participants in the Intermediate condition, those with higher mental health symptoms reported greater immersion.
