Why do people play slots games on Facebook with no real money reward?

I ran a very successful slots game on facebook, and we often asked ourselves this very question... particularly when we saw 'Whales' spending thousands within the game.  My belief is it's a combination of the below: 1. Legality - It's illegal to gamble real money online in the US (where the vast majority of the players come from) 2. Entertainment not Gambling - It doesn't 'feel' like gambling, because you're not winning any money, so it's a few $ is for entertainment only (think having your Starbucks coffee on the way to work) 3. Progression - the games are designed to encourage players to progress and the maths behind the progression models are designed to make you go bust at points in the progression cycle.  Players  pay to progress more quickly, unlock more content (a new slot) etc. 4. Social Competition - leaderboards, achievements etc. act as a social competition between players, some players have a desire to be at the top 5. Status/Escapism - within the game you're a millionaire... how true is it for people playing the game?

There's a whole http://www.slotspinners.co/the-psychology-of-gambling/. There is a tech entrepreneur named Nir Eyal who explains that these slot games are designed with the four stages of forming a habit:1) Trigger- Something that causes the user to start playing the game. I.e. boredom, morning commute, on their lunch break, can't fall asleep at night. 2) Action - There's that anticipation that you'll be rewarded but you never get the actual reward so in-turn you're sort of tricked into thinking something is going to happen.3) Rewards- Not literally cash coming out of your screen but rather a reaction. perhaps the game is telling you "BIG WIN" or something that makes you feel you should continue4) Investment - The more you put into the game, the more you master it. i.e. unlocking a level, unlocking a character, you feel as though you've worked so hard on and you can't delete it as an app.Why do we scroll through our Facebook news feed for hours on end with no rewards? Why do we scroll through our Instagram photo feeds for hours on end with no rewards?Same thing applies here.It's all about the psychology of design and how these people hook their users.

People play slots on Facebook or other sites that feature free slots for the sheer excitement. The new video slots from slot providers like Microgaming, Netent, Rabcat and Betsoft  spend a lot of money and hire some very creative talent to create games that excite players and draw them into the theme. The graphics and animations are stellar; and slots with free spins and second screen bonuses are quite exciting, even for players that aren't wagering real money. Tons of visitors play at http://thrillofgambling.com without ever clicking on a real casino link just because the new games and themes are so fun to play and a thrilling escape from the real world.

It is amazingly fun! Slots with beautiful graphics and sound...nice way to spend some free time in the office or at home :) but not to lose money I prefer free slots on http://playslotscasinos.com or others. Just to spin for fun though

It’s simple- people play them for fun. For some, it’s a training ground, where gamers are trying to understand whether this game worth their time and strategy, and if it worth, then trying to find a winning strategy. For others- it’s the same as playing Candy Crush type of games. They like watching spinning symbols, and guess whether this spin will be the winning one. I played many free slots at http://www.slotspill.com/, in fact I’m still playing them periodically, and they still bring me a lot of joy. Each person has their own personal reasons for playing free slots. You’ve heard mine, others may have different reasons.

I think they play it for fun and just to kill time. I don't know but some games has their own way of making their site appealing by offering some free stuff as well as challenging your friends. It's as if you own the world once you're able to defeat one of your friends in a certain game. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/business/employers-and-brands-use-gaming-to-gauge-engagement.html http://www.bookofraspielautomat.com