Music is often an underrated part of designing a successful online casino game. Visit https://icecasino.com/hu/rulett and look at the countless games on offer; you will realize music does more than just provide some background entertainment. As a matter of fact, in some games, it can prove to be the differentiating factor in how some players perform in a game.
One of the most notable case studies of music in casino games psychology can be seen in Big Time Gaming’s Danger High Voltage slot. This game is based on a renowned American rock band formed in Detroit in 1996 – Electric Six. It is one of the few games that has shown how music directly affects gaming revenues. Consequently, more and more online and land-based casinos continue to incorporate such games in their portfolio.
Another good example where the online casino industry relies on sound effects and music to influence the playing experience to its advantage can be seen in Novomatic’s Reel King slot. The software provider has incorporated sound as a means of suspense whenever bonus symbols show up on the reels. For every bonus symbol, there is suspenseful music. This creates a build-up towards the bonus round. In the event one misses the bonus round, they feel the miss was by a whisker, and they could have won it. As such, they give it another go.
But how exactly does music in casino games impact the psychology of the player? Can the sounds you hear in the background have any influence on your decision-making process as far as bets are concerned and other behaviors?
Setting the Right Atmosphere
An undeniable fact is that music is a mood-setter. Picture this, nightclubs are known for playing different types of music. Some will play jazz, hip-hop, rock, pop, and many other types of music. You will undoubtedly visit a specific establishment because it plays a particular type of music in a manner that is outstanding from the rest. Maybe the Dj knows how to mix songs with certain tonation and in a different way that gets you in the right mood.
The same concept is applicable in online casino games, especially slots. There are games we choose based on the expectation of the sound design, which sets a particular atmosphere during gameplay. Therefore, for example, in a Wild West slot, you can expect sounds linked to the era when cowboys and cowgirls dominated the American frontier. You can see this in NteEnt’s Wild Wild West: the Great Train Heist.
For many players, music setting the right atmosphere is something they rarely notice until there is discord. This means playing a casino game with the wrong music type, which becomes irritating and annoying. Instead of getting lost in the game and enjoying playing it, one finds him/herself getting attracted to the music.
Influencing Bets and the Casino’s Turnover
Music can also shape the betting habits of a player and consequently affect the gambling turnover of the casino. Take a minute and think of a luxurious casino resort at the heart of Macau. Hundreds of millions of dollars have gone into building these establishments to ensure you get state-of-the-art services. So, in the background, there is relaxing jazz music playing from a top-shelf sound system provider. The music is so hidden in the background that you get lost in your gaming session because of how relaxing it is. Furthermore, the sounds of the clinking coins, as they fall into the slot machine hopper, make you want to continue playing.
Contrast the relaxing jazz music with playing a more rapid and upbeat soundtrack – this has shown, through studies, that gambling behavior becomes more erratic and increases the rate at which players spend money.
Generally, for the better part, many casino players are not aware of the depth or level of effect background music has on their behavior. Yet, studies and statistics don’t lie. The type of music played either in brick-and-mortar casinos or online casino games directly impacts how players feel and interact with casino games.
Music and Sound Effects
It is not just the music that determines how a player bets or chooses his/her games; sound effects have a significant impact too. As stated in the previous section, while playing on the casino floor, you might hear the sounds of coins hitting the slot machine’s hooper. This signals that there has just been a winner. In the event of big wins, there might be alarms, bells, and flashing lights. Do you think this is just a coincidence? Quite the contrary. The software developer behind that game is cleverly trying to tell you that there has been a winner on the floor, and you, too, can win. Maybe if you give the slot game a few spins, it could pay out.
This also applies to online casino games. As stated in the opening paragraph, some software providers will include sounds in their bonus rounds. If three symbols are required to trigger the bonus game, then every bonus symbol that appears on the screen will make some sound. This builds up the tension and anticipation. If one misses the bonus round by one symbol, one can decide to give it another go.
Overall, while online casino games are perhaps the easiest to monitor and study in terms of how music influences the player’s psychology, the same principles apply to other types of gaming as well as industries such as TV, film, and other leisure settings. Too often overlooked, music’s power to shape our behavior and influence our decision-making process is profound.
