Slot players will get this, sometimes that big bomb symbol drops, and you’re already thinking “this is it,” but nope… no tumble, nothing connects. Then you sit there thinking, “Damn, that was close,” and next thing you know, you’re still spinning, chasing that moment again.
So what do you think, just coincidence, or a little design magic to keep us hooked? I know they’ll say it’s all fair and random, but you can’t tell me the devs didn’t factor this in when making the game. After all, nothing keeps a gambler glued to the screen like almost winning.
I would explain this by the fact that such "close" results are pure designer magic. The slot machine has given out the numbers and it already knows the result, but instead of showing the gambler a real losing result right away, it will also play on his nerves, pretending that luck was very close, because of which the gambler will be excited and will want to continue the game as soon as possible.
This is why slot players always say that their psyche is shattered due to the constant emotional swings in slots.