How do companies use the principles of slot machine design in other industries?

Question

I understand that slot machines use a specific psychological loop to keep people playing. Are there other industries that use similar principles to engage users or customers?

Answer 1

Yes, many industries and products use principles similar to those found in slot machine design to engage users. This includes social media platforms, where the opportunity is to gain status or likes, and the rewards (likes, comments, shares) are unpredictable and can be immediately checked and rechecked. Sports gambling, dating apps, and gig economy platforms like Uber also use unpredictable rewards to incentivize certain behaviors, such as driving to a specific area or swiping on profiles. These techniques leverage the same 'scarcity loop' to encourage repetitive behavior and engagement.