The Psychology of Sound – How Casino Music Affects Player Behaviour

Casino game designers aren’t only tasked with designing and creating the framework for many of the hit games we see in the current market.

Of course, it takes up quite a large chunk of their job description, but in the modern market, where audio is becoming just as important as visuals, they have to shift their focus towards the psychology of sound and its impact on casino gamers worldwide.

Depending on the type of music, it can have a particular effect on player behaviour.

So, today, we will explore how music impacts gamers, ranging from low-tempo tunes to exhilarating, fast-paced soundtracks that can have us on the edge of our seats, and how this can impact every facet of a gaming experience.

While it might seem arbitrary, plenty of planning and development goes into casino gaming soundtracks, and they’re considered vital in the grand scheme of casino gaming design.

Dealing with new platforms and interfaces

At the midpoint of the 2010s, it became clear that slot game designers had to think outside the box.

Rather than innovate in predictable areas such as gaming themes, ideas, jackpots and gaming mechanics, they had to branch out and look at other variables.

This included alternate payment methods, broader screen designs to accommodate the rise of tablet and smartphone casino gaming, and thinking of new and inventive ways to capture the attention of casino gamers by using music that stands out.

If you look at some of the more recently launched online casinos, there’s greater attention to detail in games with an all-encompassing audio-visual element.

Experts have started factoring it into their gaming reviews, and while there are other factors that determine a game’s overall appeal, the soundtrack is starting to play a bigger role in how casino gaming experts rate a title’s overall promise.

Sure, there’s a market for classic games with virtually no soundtrack, including live table games such as blackjack and classic slot game designs.

These often use a 3×3 reel in the true spirit of the original design, which does not rely on anything particularly captivating from an audio or visual perspective.

However, as the market grows and the number of platforms continues to expand, the psychology of sound and music has become an integral factor in casino gaming.

More people now notice a gaming soundtrack, especially in slot games with copyrights for TV and movie shows. The psychology of the soundtrack is a vital piece of the puzzle and showcases that the game is bona fide.

Taking lessons from conventional casinos

Land-based casinos have always looked to offer a well-rounded entertainment package.

Many of them use the pull of live performance to turn their casinos into global hubs that attract the most prominent names.

In the final stages of Elvis Presley’s career, he was paid a fortune to play his greatest hits to adoring audiences in Vegas, in a residency that lasted seven years.

During this period, long before the ubiquity of the internet, slot gaming machines were the main platform for designers looking to understand how audio psychology impacted player behaviour, implementing changes in the music that casino games used.

Depending on the theme, these games would use an array of different soundtracks and ideas. For instance, slower-paced games that revolve around more dream-like themes would use music with a slower tempo to create a sense of ambience.

This is still being rolled out in the modern market and covers a range of themes, including candy-themed and animal-themed games that are less frenzied than some of the higher-octane games.

Injecting urgency into a game

Music has been proven to positively impact various industries, including retail and sports, and enhance productivity in an office environment.

Now, this is a bit of a touchy subject in casino gaming, as creating urgency can, in theory, push gamers to play at a quicker tempo.

It is crucial to play at your own pace and within the framework of responsible gambling legislation.

While it would be unrealistic to expect casino game companies not to include soundtracks in their games, they must be careful of the music they choose and why they do so.

A fast-paced soundtrack benefits high-octane games such as Lightning Roulette, a Greek mythology slot or a quickfire video poker game.

It helps to engage the gamer, up the momentum and inject urgency into the game.

For games like Lightning Roulette, which rely heavily on visuals, the inclusion of an up-tempo soundtrack is crucial so that the whole gaming package is geared towards something fast-paced.

When implemented effectively, this has a knock-on impact on the casino gamer.

Final thoughts

While the main attraction of a casino game boils down to its gaming mechanics and how captivating it is, an appropriate soundtrack can help to add the cherry on the cake of a well-designed game.

It can be used to accompany a high-energy game, and also to convey a slower-paced game.

Some classic slot games, with originals dating back over 100 years, deliberately have no soundtrack, as they aim to replicate the classic game’s feel.

However, some elements of player behaviour are definitely affected by a well-constructed soundtrack.

Still, if the underlying game does not have the design or mechanics to keep players intrigued, then its soundtrack is usually not enough to keep them on board.

It’s trial and error, depending on the game’s popularity and the gamer’s psychology, but when a casino game gets it right, audio can be an excellent addition to top off the game.