Psychological Games Between Players and the Gaming Industry
Power Poker Psychology
by James A. McKenna, Ph.D

This is Part Two of three articles on Psychological Games in the gaming industry. Last time we discussed (1.) Games played between players and dealers. Today the focus will be on (2.) Games that occur between players and the gaming industry.

Besides gamblers and dealers playing psychological games, the gaming industry (Casinos and Commissions) have their share of games with gamblers. The same formula applies. It’s important to realize that in Psychological games, both sides obtain a payoff—one is righteous and the other feels victimized. In Part 1, we applied this formula:

B + P = D -> F -> Payoff
Bluff (a Con) + Pigeon = Drop (that leads to) The Fold (Switch) that results in a Payoff (the feeling at the end of the game)

In other words, it takes a Bluff (or a Con) plus a Pigeon (or someone with a handle to get hooked into the game) to have a Drop. Who’s the Con and who’s the Pigeon will change to produce the desired Drop. A drop is the desired response and anytime after that the Fold and Payoff can occur. The Fold refers to the psychological switch that results when the bluff is revealed. Here are some examples of how Drops occur in the gaming industry.

Casinos view most patrons as potential “pigeons.” Their “Cons” come in the form of Complimentary food, beverages, and coupons for free play. Special treatment to “high rollers” can be a con to get and keep their money in play. The Bluff (con) is getting players to play more often and to stay too long with the bribe of “something for nothing.” With the odds in the casino’s favor, this combination of Bluff + Pigeon gets the Drop – a player who loses and plays until anything that was won is lost back by staying too long. The Fold (switch) comes when the player is busted and feels victimized. The payoff of the gaming industry is denial, “We’re only trying to make things fun for you.”

Voluntary and involuntary exclusions of players from casinos set the stage for other games. First of all, gamblers are continually searching for excitement. Think of the excitement of “pulling the wool over” the casino’s eyes. The “Con” is a player who seeks help with a gambling problem. The pigeon is the gaming commission who doesn’t recognize the gambler’s need for excitement and agrees to bar them from casinos.

The “Fold” comes when the player seeks excitement by trying to get around the exclusion. Some players who are barred from playing will disguise themselves, borrow a friend’s ID, and slip by security, bragging how they put one over on the industry. Of course, when they get caught, the game of “Cops and Robbers” will gain a payoff for both sides –usually a citation for trespassing and a “We told you so,” from the casino or gaming commission. I recently heard of a gambler, who was on Welfare, bringing a neighbor to claim anything that was won so the Welfare Department wouldn’t know she was using her checks to gamble.

The game of “Kick Me” is prevalent when players continuously bet against high odds. Other players and dealers will oblige by taking all the money a “kick me” player wants to contribute. Although I’ve heard of refusing to deal to a player who is drinking too much, I don’t know of any cases of denying a player who is losing too much.

The counterpart to the “Kick Me” player is the “Blemish” attitudes of some in the gaming industry. Such personnel view players as suckers coming in every minute to lose their money. They will pretend to want to entertain, give comps freely, and present friendly attitudes. However, behind the gambler’s back you may hear a whisper, “I feel sorry for this chump.”

James A. McKenna, PhD., has been a practicing individual and group therapist for over thirty-five years. His knowledge of human behavior combined with over thirty years of gaming experience gives him a unique perspective on the psychology of the gamer. His book, “Beyond Tells-Power Poker Psychology,” will be published soon by Gambling Times. He can be contacted at: jim@JimMckenna-phd.com.

This story is published in the Aug 11th 2003 edition of Poker Player.

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