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International Gambling Studies, 2021; Volatility under the spotlight
The paper analyses variation in online slot players’ behaviours as they switch among games with different volatilities.
Categories
The research explores how changes in game volatility affect player behavior in online slots, using real-world data from two UK gambling operators. Key findings:
• Volatility Impacts Behavior—But Not Uniformly: For players at a casino-focused operator, higher volatility was associated with increased financial losses, session time, and declined deposits. However, no significant effects were found for players at a bingo-focused operator.
• Non-Linear Relationships: The effects of volatility were not linear. Moderate increases in volatility had a stronger impact on behavior than very high volatility, suggesting a “sweet spot” for engagement and risk.
• Player Consistency: Most players tend to stick to games with similar volatility levels. Only a small proportion regularly shifted between low and high volatility games.
• Volatility and Losses: For casino-focused players, a one standard deviation decrease in volatility was associated with an 11% reduction in daily losses (~£8), while an increase led to a smaller rise (~£5).
• Session Time and Declined Deposits: Higher volatility was linked to longer sessions and more declined deposits for casino-focused players, but not for bingo-focused players.
Implications for industry and policy:
• Volatility is a meaningful product feature that can influence player risk, but its effects vary by player type and operator context.
• Risk assessments should consider volatility alongside other game features and player behaviors.
• Personalized interventions and product design strategies may be more effective than one-size-fits-all regulations.
• Future research should explore long-term effects, player subgroups, and triangulate behavioral data with self-reported harm.
These insights support a more nuanced understanding of how game design—specifically volatility—can influence gambling behavior and risk. For full details, please refer to the complete document.
