Machine Gambling-Everything You Need To Know.

Over the past few decades, there has been a significant shift in gambling habits, moving away from traditional social forms such as roulette and card games to a more solitary experience at electronic terminals. The advent of advanced digital and video technology has transformed slot machines into the primary source of revenue for the gambling industry, surpassing traditional casino games. In her book, Addiction by Design, anthropologist Natasha Dow Schull delves into the captivating world of machine gambling, which has become increasingly popular and immersive, blurring the boundaries between human and machine, control and compulsion, and risk and reward. Based on fifteen years of immersive field research in Las Vegas, Schull unveils how the repetitive mechanical rhythm of electronic gambling induces a trance-like state referred to as the "machine zone." In this state, players become disconnected from daily concerns, social obligations, and bodily awareness. Once trapped in the machine zone, gambling addicts no longer play to win but instead play to prolong their experience for as long as possible, even at the expense of their physical and financial well-being. The gambling industry actively facilitates continuous machine play, while gamblers strive to lose themselves in the experience. Game algorithms, machine ergonomics, casino architecture, ambiance management, player tracking, and cash access systems are all strategically designed to maximize player engagement. The ultimate goal is to keep the players engaged with the machines for extended periods, satisfying the market's demand for "time on device." Schull's exploration transcends the casino floors, delving into the everyday lives of gamblers and exploring the interactions between the gambling industry, individuals, and the machines of chance. The book touches upon a wide range of topics, from industry conventions and support groups like Gamblers Anonymous to the ongoing regulatory debates on the sources of addiction to gambling machines. Addiction by Design offers valuable insights into the intricate relationship between human desires and machine-driven experiences, shedding light on the broader societal anxieties and challenges we face in contemporary life. Through her thorough investigation of the growing interaction between people and machines of chance, Schull highlights the blurred boundaries between design and experience, profit and loss, and control and compulsion that are at the heart of this phenomenon.