So I have played a lot of slots and FOBT roulette and watch a lot of streams, and what always amuses me the most these days is when you hear that immortal line - ah it just missed.

The developers really have the psychology down to a tee. You play roulette and bet big on 8, it lands on 23 and you think - Just Missed - because your brain actually thinks the ball is really spinning around the wheel . You play the slots and get 2 bonus symbols and on the 5th reel you can just see the symbol in the next frame up - psychology, because the reels are not actually spinning, its just a bunch of pictures on the screen, but your mind tells you that the reels are spinning and you were close - so you assume it is due.

The only counter productive one they have produced is this ridiculous "big win" sign they thrown up. When you are playing 40p and it comes up a with a huge flashing symbol and fanfare because you have won £8.20, it doesnt influence you, it just irritates you as you feel like they are taking the piss.

What other psychological tricks has anyone else noticed?