The Psychological Effects of Music in Gambling Environments
The psychological effects of listening context on responses to music have been scientifically neglected, despite the prevalence of music in our daily lives. Until not long ago, there wasn't any research conducted on music's influence in gambling environments (land-based or online casinos), although casino games have become popular choices of entertainment.
The psychological effects of listening context on responses to music have been scientifically neglected, despite the prevalence of music in our daily lives. Until not long ago, there wasn’t any research conducted on music’s influence in gambling environments (land-based or online casinos), although casino games have become popular choices of entertainment.
The Role of Music in Land-Based Casinos
In 2004, scientists carried out an exploratory observational research study on arcades that tried to identify background music’s effects and how slot machines use catchy sounds in their design. The results showed that arcades often use music that their target audience enjoys, stimulating impulsive gambling behavior.
On top of that, the slot machine soundtracks seem to significantly influence the gamblers’ perception regarding the machine (such as quality, familiarity, and the sound associated with winning). Thus, scientists suggest that music, whether used in the environment or the game itself, is a decisive factor in developing and maintaining addictive gambling behavior.
How casino sounds influence the gambler’s subconscious
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Early studies on the influence of music show that when customers in a store are exposed to loud music, their shopping rate (how much they buy per minute spent in the shop) was higher than when quiet music was playing. Still, consumers would spend proportionally less time in the supermarket, so the final results were similar in terms of profit.
Starting from this basis, it can be speculated that people will spend more money in a gambling establishment because their behavior is limited to factors like the number of times it is possible to gamble within a given time period. Scientists do not doubt that music affects both our perception of the environment and spending. They discovered a positive correlation between the ratings of the music and the ratings of the listening environment.
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Scientific proof shows us that music plays a crucial role in the atmosphere and buyer intent, especially in a commercial environment. Another study uncovered that music can increase or decrease the sales of wine based on the type of music played in the background.
Given the previous analysis, another area worthy of investigation is background music in gambling environments and the use of music in casino games like slot machine soundtracks. Plenty of authors argue that sound effects can induce gambling behavior.
On top of that, their research shows that the constant noise in the gambling establishment(like money falling into the payout tray or sounds played when you get a winning combination) will create the impression of a fun and exciting environment where winning occurs more often than losing(especially since there is no sound for that).
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The importance of music in slot machines
Music plays a vital role in slots, particularly with newer machines themed after video games, TV series, or movies. The music played in the slot machine will form the gambler’s impression regarding the game, as the mind associates it with:
Quality of Machine – Music quality is essential. Most gamblers compare the slot’s quality with the quality of the sound effects and music it has. For some of them, the sounds are the primary reason for choosing a particular slot to play.
Distinctiveness – Game designers use music to create a distinctive feature that players will remember, facilitating gambling in the future. For example, Red Gaming uses a unique guitar sound when slot uses the gamble feature, like on the slot machine Rampage. Researchers have noted that gamers that play this slot were more likely to play again due to the music, hoping to win the jackpot and hearing the rock music anthem.
Sound of Winning – Music can send a signal that somebody won on the slot to both the player and those in his vicinity. Sound has the power to raise self-esteem and extend playtime. Sounds of winning are used for creating the illusion that a positive outcome is more common than losing.
Familiarity – psychologists show that the name of slot machines and the sound they make are essential in acquiring gambling behavior. Frequently, slots are named after familiar events, famous places, persons, or films that players can relate to. It is considered that media-related slots are more enticing, inducing a psycho-structural interaction that increases the chance of repeat use. Thus, familiarity has a persuasive effect on players, raising the time and money they spent on the slot.
What is the role of music in online casinos?
Nowadays, people are shifting towards online casinos because of the accessibility they have to offer. Players can enjoy their favorite slots and table games directly from their portable devices, meaning that the playtime can be extended drastically.
Studies show a direct correlation between the growth in popularity of video games and gambling addiction because designers use mechanics and sound borrowed from slot machines to keep the players hooked.
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Since the competition is continuously increasing in the online gambling market, operators have started re-creating key psychological triggers present in land-based casinos that will entice the users, keeping them entertained and spending more. Music is essential for player retention, as it gives users the vibe of being in a physical casino. Additionally, there are thousands of new slots that are only available online. They all have unique music and sound effects that can trigger gambling behavior in different ways.
KingCasinoBonus is a valuable resource for all British gamblers that want to stay connected to the latest releases from the iGaming industry. This site has a database with thousands of online casinos, free slots, and educational blogs that can enhance your gamer senses, ensuring that the gambling decisions you take are not influenced subconsciously by triggers like music or advertising.
Conclusion
Despite not having enough empirical data yet, and most studies are purely theoretical, specialists have concluded that music has a role in the acquisition, formation, and maintenance of gambling behavior. Based on scientific observation, slot machines are more appealing depending on the music playing in the background or from the machine itself.
Therefore, it’s safe to assume that music is critical for the gambling industry, as it increases the confidence of the player, it can have a relaxing effect, make the player ignore previous losses, and even induce a romantic affective state that might mislead users to think that his chances of winning are higher.
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A beautifully chaotic Thursday night – Rossi. at YES Pink Room for BRITs Week 2026 for War Child | Review
Harry Quick
There’s something beautifully chaotic about watching Rossi. take over a room the size of YES’s Pink Room on a midweek night in Manchester.
No towering LED walls. No Ibiza sunset backdrop. Just low ceilings, flashing pink strobes, and a crowd packed in tight enough to feel every kick drum in your ribcage.
For a DJ who has commanded renowned venues across the globe like Space Miami, Hï Ibiza, and Manchester’s very own Warehouse Project, it felt almost mischievous seeing him in a space this intimate on a Thursday night.
If you were lucky enough to grab a ticket to this instalment of the BRITs Week 2026 for War Child fringe events, you could tell early doors that whoever had one was more than ready to turn up for him. When Rossi. stepped behind the decks, taking over from the talented Olive F, who set the tone for the evening, and once the headphones were firmly sat on his curly locks, he eased us in with a rolling, groovy opener – not so subtly dripping in snippets of his biggest and best tracks. We’d have to wait for those.
His sound sits in that sweet spot between underground grit and polished punch. Tech-house, but with his own East End character. The drums feel tight and deliberate. The basslines don’t just thud, they glide.
To start us out, we were hit with a few dancey vocals filled with his hometown of London’s Grime influence, all the way to Frank Ocean’s ‘Lost’ at 125 bpm. Within minutes, the pink room was in full swing.
From there, the set unfolded like a guided tour through the different shades of Rossi.’s catalogue. Underground favourites like ‘U WONT SEE ME’ slipped into the mix with a knowing reaction from the very keen lads at the front. ‘FREAK IN THE SHEETS’ followed later, cheeky and rhythmic, drawing that half-grin from dancers absolutely going for it at the front right.
It’s easy to forget how far he’s come. A decade ago, he was carving out space in the underground. Now he’s headlining globally recognised parties like Circoloco, Music On, Paradise, and Fuse, and launching a world tour that’s been tearing through the UK, Ireland, Europe, and the US. Yet here, there was no arena ego. Just a cheeky lad going back to his roots like he’s on his CDJs in the bedroom.
Mid-set, he began to lift the energy. Brighter synths edged in with the odd jangly finger floater for good measure (that’s what I’m calling that dance move anyway!). The percussion grew punchier. The room, already warm, never quite tipped into sweatbox territory. Strangers were dancing together. Drinks were abandoned on ledges. I had realised I’d bagged the perfect vantage spot overlooking things on the ledge, in prime view of a truly fortuitous occasion.
Rossi. at YES for BRITs Week 2026 for War Child / Credit: Holly Pimlott (Supplied)
Then came one of the night’s real eruptions. ‘High On Me’ – his breakout collaboration with Jazzy – landed like a spark in dry grass. The track, which stormed into the UK Top 20 and racked up over 20 million streams in a matter of weeks, felt enormous in a room this size.
Arms shot up. Lyrics were shouted back. For a few minutes, YES felt like the epicentre of British dance music or maybe a flashback to a ruthless TikTok doom scroll session.
But what impressed me most was the pacing. Rossi. didn’t sprint through bangers. He let grooves breathe. He allowed tension to stretch before unleashing the drop on almost every occasion. Teasing in a little snippet of an upcoming track, a few minutes before we could revel in it in full. It’s the confidence of someone who’s sold out 2,500-capacity headline shows – even breaking ticketing systems with demand – yet still understands that the magic is in the build.
The talented Olive F supported and set the tone for the evening / Credit: Holly Pimlott (Supplied)
As the final stretch approached, he nudged the tempo upward… and he was about to drop some serious crowd pleasers.
LEDs dampened. Darkness fell. The murmurings of ‘Lady – Hear Me Tonight’ rose in unison with the crowd’s curiosity. It didn’t take long until the entire gaff was going mental. Just pure, euphoric house music.
And to finish, with his headphones resting against the decks and mixing all said and done, he pressed play on the swan song. As ‘These Sounds Fall Into My Mind’ echoed around the room, the speakers hardly needed to be playing anymore. When he finally eased out, it felt less like an ending and more like an enticing warning shot for the summer ahead… hello, is that Ibiza calling?
Rossi. at YES wasn’t just a warm-up for this Saturday’s big BRIT Awards, it was proof that no matter how big the stages get, he thrives in the arm-flaring closeness of a proper club room.
Global headline DJ. Underground heart.
Featured Image – Holly Pimlott (Supplied)
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Olivia Dean proves she deserves all her flowers with a captivating performance for BRITs Week 26 for War Child
Clementine Hall
BRITs Week 26 for War Child continued in Manchester last night, with Olivia Dean taking over a beautiful candle-lit Albert Hall… and it was a night we won’t forget.
I don’t need to tell you how utterly brilliant Olivia Dean is.
It’s something I’ve known for years (humble brag), but luckily it seems the entire world has caught on over the past few months.
I’ve been lucky enough to see Olivia five times now, and from watching her joyfully shake here banana-shaped maraca on a small stage at Glastonbury in 2023, to swishing her olive green satin gown at one of the country’s best venues last night – her indisputable talent remains.
Images: The Manc
The Art of Loving, her sophomore album, came out in September last year and features global hits ‘Man I Need’ and ‘Nice to Each Other’.
The record is a perfect analysis of love in all forms. Her heartfelt yet humoured lyricism explores its constant ups and downs, but perhaps the most prominent theme of love throughout is self-love.
And this is so clear as we watch Olivia beam from ear to ear as she makes her way through a setlist that is a celebration of her entire discography.
Of course, we heard all the fan favourites from the new album including ‘Lady Lady’ and ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’, but we were also treated to some of her older songs like ‘Echo’ and ‘UFO’ that initially brought her into the limelight.
A highlight for me was Ladies Bathroom which saw the gigantic disco ball hanging above us kick into gear, which as you can imagine at the gorgeous Albert Hall was a real sight to behold.
The entire evening underlined why smaller, grassroots venues are so bloody brilliant and deserving of our support now more than ever.
Image: Supplied
No pushing, no overcrowding, we were all there to revel in Olivia’s greatness and we all knew how lucky we were.
This was no doubt a very special show, a complete one-off in aid of BRITs Week 2026 to raise money for War Child, which Olivia joyfully announced that we had raised £270,000 for that night.
It’s no surprise that Olivia Dean is one of the most exciting artists in the world right now, oozing class, charm and impeccable talent.
We’ll be watching with our fingers crossed as she attends the BRIT Awards on Saturday evening with an impressive (and very well deserved) five nominations.
If you’re lucky enough to have tickets to her upcoming tour then just know how much fun you’ll have, but you’ll never have as much fun as Olivia does on that stage.
You can find out more about the remaining War Child performances here.
The Manc -
7th December 2020 
