Why 'Near Misses' Hurt More Than Other Losses

Near misses are losses that appear as though they will result in a win up until the last second.

Anyone who has ever watched the reels of a slot machine come close to landing on a big win – only to result in a loss – has experienced a near miss.

Let’s take a look at how the gambling industry makes you believe you’ve come close to winning and why these losses can emotionally and physically hurt more than other losses.

How the Gambling Industry ‘Fakes” Near Misses

There’s some evidence that some slots are programmed to make you think that you’re going to win a spin, only for that spin to result in a loss.

There are several reasons why casino game developers would want to program near misses into their games, which we will discuss in a few sections. The bottom line is that near misses can encourage gamblers to continue playing long after they may have stopped, if a spin had simply resulted in a regular loss.

Why Near Misses Hurt More Than Other Losses

Near misses can trigger intense emotions, induce physical pain, and even lead to gambling addiction. Let’s discuss why losing after believing you’re about to win can be more painful than other losses.

They Trigger Intense Emotions

Near misses give you false hope that you might win a bet. Up until the final moment, you’re convinced you’re going to win – only to have those hopes dashed when the outcome isn’t what you expected.

This can trigger intense emotions, such as anger, sadness, and regret. Many gamblers believe they somehow could have altered the outcome (which is very rarely the case in luck-based games, such as slots or roulette).

It simply hurts more when your emotions swing from extreme positives to extreme negatives.

They Can Induce Physical Reactions

Many gamblers experience physical pain when they lose a bet because the parts of the brain that regulate emotional responses also regulate physical pain.

Since we know that near misses can induce a greater negative emotional response, we can also presume that they could trigger an even greater physical response, too.

They Entice Gamblers to Continue Playing

The University of Pennsylvania published a paper titled “The impact of near-miss events on betting behavior: An examination of casino rapid roulette play” in 2012 that determined near misses can entice gamblers to play longer.

The paper suggests that gamblers believe they have some degree of control over the outcomes of luck-based games. If a gambler believes that they could come close to winning once, they often believe they can do it again (and possibly even win the second time).

They Could Lead to Gambling Addiction

The more near misses you experience, the more likely you are to continue to play – even if you’ve already exhausted your gambling budget.

Continually experiencing near misses over and over could potentially lead to a gambling addiction.

This is why it’s important to set time-based and dollar-based gambling budgets and to stick to them. It’s also important to remember that you have no control over luck-based games.

If you’re experiencing near misses, it’s not because you’re “good” at gambling; it’s more likely that the casino game is programmed to make you believe that you came close to winning when, in actuality, wins and losses are determined by random number generators.

Related articles

Sites Like Fortune Coins

Sites Like YAY Casino

Sites Like Sweeptastic

Casino.Click Promo Code

New Sweepstakes Casinos In the US

Best Venmo Online Casinos