GSS 006: The Near-Miss—How Games Are Designed to Hook Compulsive Gamblers

In this episode, I introduce something called The Near-Miss which is used to exploit the way problem gamblers think. From slot machines to scratch off tickets, the near-miss is built into the design of gambling games in order to keep gamblers gambling, even when they are losing. LINKS TO ARTICLES The Near-Miss Effect by Jonan Lehrer The Psychology of the Near Miss by R.L. Reid Why Your Brain Loves Near-Misses in Gambling by Sharon Begley