What to Expect in Game Design for Gambling

Let's break it down.

Imagine explaining to a game designer from the non-gambling online game industry what they need to know and practice to succeed in the gambling industry (as I have done several times over the past 7-8 months).

1. Legal Considerations: Game designers in gambling must adhere to specific regulations and laws. They need to consult with the Legal department on their decisions. If your role intersects Game Design, Product Management, and Production, you’ll need even more collaboration with the Legal team.

2. Player Motivation: Understand that your players are motivated differently. They play to earn, not just for a cool game core loop. Your game design should create a smooth and engaging user experience that enhances dopamine cycles.

3. UI/UX Design: You need to build an intuitive, smooth UI/UX. Strong intrinsic motivation can be hindered by a poor interface. Each time a player struggles with what to do next, the habit loop weakens.

4. Psychological Triggers: Use psychological triggers effectively to place the needed game mechanics. This will help maintain player engagement.

5. Luck Mechanics: You should have a solid understanding of “Luck mechanics” which will be detailed below.

6. Cross-disciplinary Knowledge: You need knowledge that crosses Product Design, Product Management, Marketing, and Game Design. This helps create strong habit loops, making the product habitual. A gambling game designer is a mix of game designer, gamification expert, and product manager.

Main Game Mechanics in Gambling

• Near-Misses: Create a UX full of near-misses. These moments make players feel close to winning, which their brains treat as wins, ignoring the loss.
• Rewards: Combine frequent small rewards with random but carefully scheduled rewards to keep players pursuing their goal. This creates anticipation and excitement.
• Jackpots: Use jackpots as unpredictable rewards to keep players motivated. Progressive prizes grow the longer the player plays, setting up long-term goals.
• Mini-Games: Implement mini-games to trigger additional motivation and hope, using randomizers and time-limited boosters that change probabilities.
• Satisfaction and Immersion: Analyze the core loop repeatedly to make the feedback strong and the engagement cycles catchy.
• FOMO Mechanics: Use FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) to encourage players to return and play more.
• Gamification Approaches: Understand intrinsic and extrinsic motivation triggers to prioritize the right mechanics.
• Loss Aversion: Leverage loss aversion, a psychological mechanism where the fear of loss is greater than the desire to gain. This is a powerful trigger that pushes players to keep playing to regain what they've lost.

Ethical Considerations

Game design in gambling exists in an ethical gray zone. It doesn’t provide entertainment in the traditional sense, as players are motivated by potential earnings. Attitudes toward this can vary widely. For me, gambling showcases the power of psychology and offers a fascinating area to explore.

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