Sounds accompany us from the first minutes of life and fill our surroundings. We have associations with them, and the subconscious draws images, etc.
And the sound is an object of research by marketers, and the gambling industry is no exception, where sound design has long been “conquered”. Yes, what you hear in your favorite slots does not just sound like that but is selected, taking into account scientific and marketing research.
Whether you’re playing in a casino in Canada, Australia, or elsewhere doesn’t matter. The soundtrack will touch something you can’t control.
Sound is a strategic tool
Any of the online top casino websites have their research on the behavioral logic of users. How do they react to winning or losing? What do they feel at that moment?
To “subdue” the behavior of users a little, the casino uses sound accompaniment that calms the players or, on the contrary, excites them a little. Numerous studies (for example, Psychology Today) prove that music and sounds in casinos influence players’ behavior.
Components to which you should pay attention
Speaking about the components of sound design, it is worth paying attention to the following aspects.
Tempo adjusts the player accordingly. For example, dynamic music encourages more risk-taking making bigger bets.
The emotional component is also significant. Music can evoke some emotions and nostalgic feelings. It can be music that complements the theme of the slot. For example, Egyptian sound motifs are more characteristic in an Egyptian-themed slot. Such a well-known accompaniment calms the player, helps him more easily endure failure in the game, and supports his faith in himself.
Not only music
When we talk about sound design, we mean not only music but other sounds as well. When entering a casino or a website, a player hears hundreds of sounds from pressing keys, scrolling spins, etc. All these sounds are made taking into account research on the functioning of the brain and human senses.
Therefore, each sound aims to satisfy several essential needs at once: to support the player’s excitement, to eliminate disappointment from failure, and to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
Although the sounds in the slots seem unimaginable to us, they are all like that for a reason, and each sound has its purpose and role.
“If audio is important in console games, it is ten times more important in slot games. While often not given the attention it deserves, audio can make or break a game since it lends credibility (or lack thereof) to the game environment. Try watching a thriller without the sound on – about 80% of the experience is gone!” shares Stellita Loukas, Sound Designer
Immersive ness in gambling
The example of the “thriller without sound” raises the critical question of immersion in the atmosphere of the casino, the game. Sound also plays a vital role in this direction.
Visitors to elite casinos can use high-end cabinets, where visual accompaniment, chair movement, and super-realistic sound can transport the player into the atmosphere of the game he is playing. Unfortunately, it is difficult to transform this experience online due to technical limitations. The same 3D sound requires the user to have the appropriate equipment.
The next step in this direction could be VR, but there still needs to be more owners of augmented reality gadgets to dictate market conditions.
What’s next?
The role of sound design is evident in the gambling industry today, and slot providers are constantly improving this aspect of their products.
Of course, video games are also taken as a guide, where work with sound is much deeper and more diverse. Therefore, today, visitors to websites with top casinos can also hear experimental options with more variety of sounds, but of course, taking into account all marketing points.
Plenty of technologies are available to make slot immersion even more profound, but limitations stand in the way. Slots should be easy to download so as not to overload smartphones, and therefore, the sound quality in online slots still needs to be at the highest possible level.
However, technologies are moving, and sound designers acknowledge their creativity. But will it change the well-known sounds of winning in slot machines, which we are already used to hearing in casinos and Hollywood movies, commercials, etc.?
