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 have felt that in the past, and indeed it is a powerful feeling being aware of almost hitting a big multiplier.
However, by saying those things you are implying slots which do those "near misses" are not fairly programmed to give actually random results to gamblers, which is obviously a serious problem and I would even go as far as saying it would be some kind of accusation.
I prefer to believe those near misses are a regular of randomness and the chances playing in favor of the casino in the last second, in both ways: not having to pay us any money and also psychologically getting us more hooked to their services.
If you have doubts and believe there is something off going behind the curtains, then stick to provably fair slots and casino games. There is always a place for paranoid gamblers in this industry.