Our lives have become inherently linked to our devices. We use our phones and computers for work, enjoyment, and to stay organised, but they’ve also become a source of distractions when we’re trying to focus. Various studies have found that over the past few years, the average attention span has shortened. This is in part due to how we’re distracted by screens and the internet.
But, how does this lack of focus impact gambling behaviour? And which games should you play if you find yourself unable to stay in the present moment?
Attention Spans And Focus Getting Worse
Dr. Gloria Mark conducted a study that measured how long the average attention span is over a few years. This was done by using a stopwatch (initially) to log how long study participants spent doing certain tasks on a screen. In 2004, the average attention span was around 2 minutes and 30 seconds. In 2012, the study found that it had been shortened to 75 seconds. A decade later, that number has decreased to 47 seconds. This result has been replicated by other scientists, too.
Having an attention span of only a few seconds appears to be the new normal, since it has stabilised at 47 seconds (give or take a few seconds) for the past few years. This is not a good thing, since the same studies found that switching between tasks can result in more stress and an increase in blood pressure.
However, the idea of being distracted is not new. Our focus has waxed and waned for many years, depending on various external factors like how many hours we slept, how interesting the task is, and what other tasks are occupying our minds.
This distractibility has trickled into many aspects of our lives. We can be busy with a task for work, only to check emails a few seconds later. You might be in the middle of cooking a meal when you pick up your phone and start scrolling TikTok. Or, you might be in the middle of an online poker game when a news headline steals your attention away.
Gambling poses an interesting contradiction when it comes to shortened attention spans. Our brains are constantly seeking excitement, novelty, and social connection. This is why we tend to pick up our phones and check social media notifications. However, online casinos like slots not on Gamstop offer all these features, with bonuses, plenty of new games on offer, and the excitement of potential wins. Yet, many get distracted while gambling, especially when in an intense strategic table game, making them worse gamblers. The remedy is to practice mindfulness by reading or playing mind-enhancing games (chess, card games, crosswords, etc.).
Fun Casino Games Without Mental Engagement
Fortunately, there are plenty of fun casino games that can be played even if you lack a long attention span. These types of games rely on luck and not strategic thinking:
- Slots: Slots offer simple gameplay and straightforward rules. It’s the perfect game for gamblers who are easily distracted or who are new to the world of online gambling. You decide your bet size, place your bet, click a button to spin the reels, and wait for the outcome that is generated by a random number generator.
- Roulette: This table game is also mostly based on luck, with only a bit of strategy involved if you take it very seriously. Players place their bets on where a ball will land on a numbered spinning wheel. The betting options include betting on a specific number, set of numbers, odds or evens, or the colour of the square the ball lands in. You can place your bet and step away for a moment while the wheel spins, if you find something to distract you.
Although shortened attention spans are unlikely to impact your gambling behaviour if you opt for these two games, more strategic games like poker or blackjack will likely be negatively impacted if you can’t stay focused for the duration of the round.
Wrapping Up
There’s no doubt that our attention spans are getting worse. This finding has been backed up by scientific studies and is impacting many aspects of our lives. We struggle to focus at work, our phones are constantly drawing our attention, and even our gambling behaviours are being negatively impacted. Luckily, there are a couple of casino games that even the most distracted gamblers can enjoy without risking their budget.