The Zone: How Gamblers Experience Altered States

Frequent gamers may be familiar with the zone, though not necessarily by that name. The zone is a psychological state that players can enter after a long period of gaming, and it is when they become fully immersed in their games. Have you ever lost track of time playing slots or got so immersed in video poker that you didn’t realize how many rounds you played?

Chances are, you got sucked into the zone. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that should be avoided. The zone is not exclusive to casino games either. It can come to anyone in the middle of a demanding activity. You could be working out in the gym, going for a run, reading a book or even cooking. It is quite a pleasurable way to spend time, but when you are playing for real money, then you shouldn’t get too carried away.

Defining the Zone

It is also referred to as being locked in or flow. The zone is a mental state and is often associated with positive psychology. The ability to switch off all thoughts and external distractions to zone in on one activity gives us an energized focus. We feel more connected to the activity and can keep it up for long periods of time without losing concentration. In a positive context, this can help us focus on the activity at hand and enhance our efficiency. After getting into the zone, you may be able to pitch-perfect curveballs. Or, increase your reflexes in a video game and heighten your abilities.

A lot of people find pleasure in switching off and entering the zone state. Time slips away and they can fully engage themselves in the activity at hand.

How Casino Gamers Enter the Zone

Getting into the zone playing casino games does not happen instantly. Often, it takes a good few rounds before players switch off and immerse themselves into the games. Warming up with a few light wins and losses, players will get a feel for the game.

The nature of the games also helps players switch off and enter the altered state sooner. There are aspects that can hasten the process, some of which happen naturally and others are specially designed to lure in gamers.

Overwhelming Your Senses

Games with flashy lights, engaging audio, and special visual extras help to set the mood for gamers. The chirping slot machines, the feel of the chips or cards, and the gaming environment all help to drive engagement. Sensory overload can happen in online casino games just as it can in brick and mortar casinos. Something is going on at all times, and the non-stop action will catch your senses sooner than later.

Repetition of Casino Games

Most casino games have extremely short rounds. In slots, a round can take a matter of seconds. In blackjack and some video poker variants, there is a small pause in each round as you decide whether to hit or not. Roulette requires a short wait while the ball travels across the wheel, but that does not last long either.

The rounds are short and sweet, making the games quite repetitive. This repetition can induce a slight hypnosis that eases gamers into the games. After a few rounds, you can decide whether you like the game or not. Then, when you have found one that satisfies your whims and needs, you can get stuck in.

Variable Wins and Losses

If it were as simple as flipping a coin on heads or tails, the casino games would get boring quite quickly. You always have a 50-50 chance of winning or losing, and, for the most part, the rounds are quite predictable. But casino games are far more variable, and there are lots of different possible outcomes. Take slots, you never know whether you will land a winning payline, get a partial payline, trigger a bonus round, cause the reels to cascade, land an instant prize, or just get nothing. Even near misses in slots can get you going, as it feels like the win is drawing ever nearer.

Casino games such as blackjack, poker, and video poker introduce an element of control. The blackjack player decides whether to hit, stand, split, double down, or surrender. In poker, you can raise, check or fold, and in video poker, you can either hit or fold. These all add so many variables and different possible outcomes to each round, making them virtually unpredictable.

The unpredictable fuels our brains with dopamine, the pleasure hormone, and gives us more drive to keep playing and see what happens next.

Benefits of the Zone in Gambling

As we have looked at in other activities, entering the zone can be a very entertaining and rewarding experience. Casino games are quite easy to pick up and players of any level can enjoy playing them. There are demo versions for any players who don’t feel comfortable staking money on games they haven’t tried yet. Even those have their own allure and players can enter the zone playing them.

The dopamine release can make you feel extremely relaxed and satisfied. It is quite easily achievable playing fast paced casino games, and some people may use them as a form of escapism. Namely, to settle their nerves and break a monotonous routine with something that is lighthearted and fun.

Downsides of The Zone and Altered States

However, whilst getting carried away with the games is the object for a lot of thrill seekers, it is essential not to allow your gambling to go too far. You should be aware of the consequences if you lose, and not get too stuck in a game that you can’t let it go. Playing for real money, it is all too easy to imagine the big jackpots and winning streaks will kick in and bring you riches of untold wealth.

But that is not the case. Unfortunately, it can lead to addiction and even the loss of serious amounts of money. It does put a rain cloud over your gaming sessions, but you should always be mindful of how much you spend. Don’t get too biased on a win, and certainly don’t start chasing your losses. The sunk cost fallacy describes a typical scenario that can affect a lot of players. After playing for a long period of time and the machine has eaten through your bankroll, it feels impossible to call it quits. Because you have invested so much in the game and feel like there must be an upward turn waiting at the end of the tunnel.

How to Control Your State When Gambling

So you have to make sure never to get to that stage. One way to do this is by keeping an eye on your bankroll throughout your gaming, but this can also take the fun out of each round. A better way is to use the gambling control tools provided by all licensed online casinos. Using any of the following tools, you can control the time and money you spend. They are not reserved for problem gamblers, but should be used by all online casino members.

Deposit Limits

When you sign up at an online casino, most require you to fill out a deposit limit upon registration. This can also be done later, or changed to meet your preferences. It sets a limit on how much you can deposit into your gaming account. The limit can be set on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. Once you have reached your limit, you will not be able to top up your account with any more money.

Reality Checks

This tool is the perfect way to control how much time you spend in the zone. It is similar to an alarm or a timer, and sends you notifications after you have played for a certain amount of time. You can set reality checks for every 30 minutes, every hour, or even every 10 minutes. When that time has elapsed, a window will cover the screen and inform you that your time is up. Reality checks can be set with the option to continue playing, or you can fix the maximum playing time for a day. If you have filled out your gaming time for the day, your game will close and you will not be able to proceed until the following day.

Loss Trackers

These are similar to reality checks, but instead of measuring the time that has passed, they notify you of how much money you have lost. While you may win heaps of cash in abundance, if you have reached your loss limit, you will get a message to inform you of how much you have spent. Should you opt to set a maximum on your losses, then you will get a few notifications before you have exceeded the limit. Once you have touched your limit, your gaming session will close and you can only return the following day.

Conclusion of the Zone in Gambling

Entering the zone is not a bad state for gamblers, whether you are playing for real money or on demos. The whole purpose of these games is to entertain. But you must also be aware of the dangers and learn to switch back on. Through responsible gambling tools and initiatives, players can avoid the dangers and learn how to play for fun.