It’s often said that playing video games can be beneficial for the mind. But what about visiting casinos, land-based and online, and playing slots? They’re incredibly similar to video games, and you could suggest there are more reasons why they could enable the improvement of cognitive functions such as focus.
One of the first points to note is that it doesn’t really matter how you play video slots, be it at a land-based casino or by spinning the reels of one of the latest online slot machines; there are still plenty of ways in which they can help improve focus, attention and all that good stuff, even if playing could end up being bad for the pocket at times. And a crucial reason why going down the slot route could trump video games is because there’s an emotional connection to the money involved, which isn’t relevant when playing a standard video game.
A key component where focus and attention immediately go when spinning the reels of slots isn’t necessarily to do with the gameplay, but bankroll management. It’s crucial when playing slots because of how quickly the rounds are played through. A spin usually takes seconds to complete, so focusing on how much is being spent as the reels turn is always crucial. Not managing a bankroll can lead to it dissipating quickly, even if wins are picked up along the way.
As everyone knows, for the most part, the video slots that people play, be it at a land-based casino or online, are games of chance. Everything is based on the luck of the turn of the reels. However, there will, at times, be decisions for punters to make. They could be required to make nudges akin to what was prevalent on old-school fruit machines. Or, they may have to decide which bonus feature to play. Moments like this not only require immediate focus but long-term thinking and clarity too.
There are other areas of the brain and cognitive function that will also benefit from slot games being played, especially on mobile. When punters are spinning the reels of slots, there’s a lot of hand-eye coordination involved. After the removal of the autoplay feature, everything that happens now in terms of a video slot is manual, with the player responsible for everything.
We’ve also recently seen the introduction of more advanced slots and casino games that take inspiration from them but appear to work in a different way. As time goes on, the onus is more on the player to make the right decisions at the right time, which requires not only focus but decisiveness. And, as we mentioned earlier, when there is money involved, it really does up the ante. So, it’s clear that the brain is going to be put through its paces when reels of slot games are spinning, potentially more than other content on the market.
