The profile of the slot player in 2025 and our future
The slot player has managed in recent years to gradually change his profile from a player who prioritizes winning to one who wants to have more fun. I mean the trend… Perhaps in the years to come this trend will become prominent and will determine the “birth” of the educated player, dedicated primarily to fun.
slot player
The vast majority of casino players come to have fun
I go to the gaming halls frequently and observe. After many years of experience, I can appreciate what was in the halls 15 years ago and what is now. Contrary to the urban legends used by our politicians (from all parties) to gain political capital, in landbase I observe a decrease in the number of players. On the one hand, the real estate boom of many years ago ended and then the financial resources of the customers in the gaming halls diminished, on the other hand, the money coming from the diaspora is no longer so much for their relatives in Romania to have money to “chop” on the machines. Life in Romania is more expensive, inflation is the highest in the EU… there is not much money left to play. But to become addicted… there is no way. I am not referring to the drunkards of those with ready money, because there are probably always resources there, but those with a thinner education and less brains I do not see in the halls so often anymore. Many people probably prefer the online version of the game now. It is possible, because it is more convenient, even if you lose in terms of socializing. I also notice that those who put large amounts into the machines have almost completely disappeared, at least I don’t see them anymore. They play with small denominations, preferring a longer game on the machines, but we know that this means that you get fewer doubles and specials. Frustration may come in… but also the awareness of the fact that you come for fun and not for some bombastic win.
What do gamblers look for in gambling halls?
Generally they come for the adrenaline and for socializing. If some of us jump with a parachute from an airplane or a paraglider, ski on cliffs or dive into water from 30 meters, they go to the gambling hall to look for adrenaline. Casino gamblers seek to detach themselves from everyday life in a social environment. For this they pay a sum of money. When they play they can lose, but they can also receive a sum of money.
How are offline players?
Generally, the RTPs on machines in our country are 92-95%, so the operators offer enough winnings. The money doesn’t come from casinos, it comes from other players, I don’t know how many realize this. It’s exactly the same principle as in the lottery game. We play a huge number of people for small amounts, the lottery (the house) stops a fee, and the rest becomes consistent winnings for one, two, three players per draw (I don’t count those who win in the lower categories of winnings). Players should play a limited budget and if they win, collect the winnings and leave. You have enough time to come back another time.
Recently, the National Office for Games of Chance (ONJN) in Romania has registered approximately 16,000 exclusion requests. These refer to land-based casinos. A change in the law is being prepared for online ones.
How are online gamblers?
During the International Online Gambling Forum conference, a study conducted by iVox.ro at the request of the Association of Remote Gambling Operators (AOJND) revealed that for 55.51% of respondents, gambling represents fun, entertainment or relaxation, and for 40.30% a hope for financial gain. However, 47.15% of respondents are willing to lose only a few dozen lei per month, 19.01% indicate a willingness to lose a few hundred lei, and 3.80% mention an amount equivalent to a salary.
The frequency with which participants choose to gamble varies from 13.31% daily to 22.05% weekly, while 24.71% of respondents state that they engage in such activities only a few times a month. In contrast, 39.92% say they do not have a regular schedule.
The information above shows that the online player has the appearance of a rational player profile. It is natural to want to win money, but the first option for you when you come to the gaming room should be fun.
Yes, some of us let ourselves be overwhelmed by emotions, which does not allow them to approach a more rational game. But you do not represent the majority of players! They are a small part. They stand out more strongly, make noise, comment aggressively, etc. I do not think it is good for the authorities to punish a field and the vast majority of players who have fun within the limits of rationality, for a minority of players who cannot stop in time.
I also have several accounts with various online operators and I often go to discussion forums or chats to see what is being discussed and what is the pulse of the players in the virtual environment… Well, here the environment is a little more educated, many young people, players who have never left the online environment. It is likely that with the passage of time, online players will also be curious to play in land-based halls or casinos, but they will be more prepared for the moment of losses.
I have noticed that players self-exclude themselves when they lose and want to regain their rights when they win, a hilarious situation, but which detonates that some players confuse things, they are naive. Casinos do not compensate for losses, each player must be aware of them and assume them. Otherwise you have no business in the gaming room or on gaming sites. When they lose, they accuse the operator of “playing with the machines” or “playing with the RNG” or the software… Things will probably settle down on a normal track when the Single Self-Exclusion Register administered by ONJN will exist. It is obvious that the lack of market rules in this area has led to excesses and a bad image of the industry among people and then automatically in the eyes of the state.
But the State, when it decided decades ago to operate its monopoly (that of gambling) should have provided a more coherent and up-to-date regulatory framework, not to let politicians take revenge on operators, allowing an antagonistic climate, transforming them into “enemies of the people”.
I don’t want to seem subjective by excessively defending gambling operators, but from what I remember from the last 15 years, the Romanian gambling industry has always been willing to comply with laws, decisions of the authorities, overnight tax increases, the closure of gaming halls during the pandemic, supported vaccination actions at the industry level, demonstrated a degree of compliance and payment of taxes in an almost maximum proportion, of 99%, etc.
Conclusion
The profile of the gambling player will also shape the future of this field, and with a little help from regulatory institutions, we are convinced that we are definitely moving towards a much more responsible and aware player.
The greater the openness of the authorities towards transparency of the regulatory act and predictability, the higher the degree of compliance the industry will have and then, together with clear rules, better communication, and the technological tools that we now have at our disposal (AI), we will be able to design a much better profile of the gambling player in the future than we have now.
