Does Faster Game Speed Actually Make You Lose More?

Many gamblers believe that faster game speeds can lead to more wins. Less lag time equates to higher chances of winning a spin at an online slot machine or a hand in an online poker room, right? Not necessarily.

Game speeds don’t really affect wins and losses at online casinos. Even though we may believe that lag times are responsible for losses, most casino game results are determined by return-to-player percentages (RTPs) and random-number generators (RNGs). Neither of these algorithms is affected by game speed.

Yet, many gamblers still superstitiously believe that losses can be controlled. What’s even more intriguing is that faster game speeds may actually result in more losses over time.

Let’s take a closer look at how game speed affects your gameplay and whether or not slower load times are responsible for losses.

How Faster Game Speed Impacts Casino Gameplay

Marketers find that players consider casinos with fast-loading gameplay more trustworthy. If an online casino offers a good user experience, players consider the site a reputable place to play.

But does game speed actually make a casino more reputable? Not necessarily. The only reputable real-money online casinos are ones that are licensed and regulated by the states in which they operate.

Online casinos that are licensed and regulated have bigger budgets for servers and IT teams. Faster game speeds can actually make online casinos more profitable because gamblers are more likely to continue gambling on faster sites.

Let’s look at how faster game speeds actually impact your gameplay at online casinos.

Faster Game Speeds Can Make You Play More

When game speed moves more rapidly, you’re more likely to play for longer periods of time.

A 2020 study found that faster game speeds made gamblers more excited – and more likely to continue playing. The study found that faster game speeds inhibited motor responses and made participants less likely to stop playing.

Does this mean you’ll lose more? Possibly. If you find that you struggle to stop playing because the speed of games is so enticing, you’re more likely to continue playing after your daily budget has been spent.

If you’re someone who chases losses, you’re more likely to continue playing to recoup the money you lost.

Faster Game Speeds Can Lead to Problem Gambling

A 2018 article published in The Journal of Gambling Studies titled “The Impact of Speed of Play in Gambling on Psychological and Behavioural Factors: A Critical Review” found that faster game speeds could lead to problem gambling.

The article looked at 11 studies on game speed and problem gambling and found that people who suffer from problem gambling were more likely to become overstimulated, struggle to stop playing, and gamble more when playing at higher speeds.

Although the article stated that more research is needed to determine the link between faster game speeds and problem gambling, it appears that game speed can impact self-control.

Does Faster Game Speed Actually Make You Lose More? The Bottom Line

Overall, yes, faster game speeds can actually lead to more losses over time. If you struggle to stop gameplay because the speed of the game is too exciting, you may not make the best choices when it comes to limiting your time gambling.