Why players don't leave after skidding (and a little about how bonuses break the psyche)
Why players don't leave after skidding (and a little about how bonuses break the psyche)
It's easy to lose a deposit and slam the door — everyone has been through it. Kazik will immediately throw a push with some free spin or "wheel of fortune" (which for some reason always gives the same prize 🙃), and you are back in the game.
But the problem for operators is not in the losers, but in those who suddenly found themselves in the black or at least recouped the deposit. Such people need not only to be retained, but also forced to finish. And this is where bonuses come into the picture, an invention with a very cunning internal logic.
Sticky magic of bonuses
The first trick is sticky bonuses. The deposit and bonus are glued together into one common balance, and visually you have a mountain of money. But the trick is that you can't withdraw them until you roll the entire wager.
Caught a thousand bucks worth of winnings? It's beautiful. But these numbers on the screen are just bait. You will have to continue playing, and then simple math and RTP turn on, which always return the advantage to the product in the long run.
Conditions with an asterisk
A wager is only a base. Usually, a bunch of restrictions are imposed on top:
- Withdrawal limit. Won $10k from a $100 bonus? Forget it. X3 of the bonus amount means a maximum of $300.
- Limit on the amount of the bonus. If you deposit $1000, only $500 will fly to your account from above.
- Wagering in "special" slots. Usually in those where the RTP is dull. So neither Plinko nor "throwing balls" - only long sessions in dubious machines.
And this is all just a basic set. Then creativity begins: products test new mechanics, look at the reaction of players, balance between retention and toxicity of conditions.
Where the line lies
Have you come across bonuses with strange wording like "not valid on Saturdays" or "you need to make at least 1000 spins to wager"? But 😅 believe me, the imagination of operators is limitless — sooner or later they will come up with this.
