They may seem as different as chalk and cheese. But playing poker and slots can certainly have some beneficial effects.
As a serious poker player, you might be wondering exactly how playing on completely random and skill-free machines might do you any good, but you should read on. By the end of the article we hope to have persuaded you that taking some time out to watch the spinning reels will send you back to the table refreshed, reinvigorated and ready to take on the world.
Maximum concentration
A Bump On The Head (CC BY 2.0) by garryknight
As anyone who’s taken to the poker table will know, it’s a game that needs total concentration if you’re not going to be suckered into losing every single hand. But, like any physical feat, concentration has its limitations. Research has found that, in a work environment, maximum productivity is achieved when you take a 17-minute break every 52 minutes. While this may not always be possible in a tense game of poker, it’s certainly an option when you’re playing online.
Although you might like to just kick back and relax for a while, spending a few carefree minutes playing the slots could be a very useful alternative. This is especially easy if you’re playing online but, wherever you are, there’s always the option of mobile slots. Many of the games you’ll find in bricks and mortar casinos are online too and there’s certain to be a very wide choice. The very best sites even offer plenty of games with progressive jackpots like Cash Splash and Chilli Gold. Admittedly, the chances of winning big on these may be limited, but if your luck is well and truly in, it could net a far bigger prize than most games of poker.
A great escape
But perhaps the most important features that make slots games relaxing is the fact that many of them are fun and make absolutely minimal demands on concentration. Spend a little while scrolling through the titles available on a site and, before long, you’re certain to find one to suit. They range from standard games like Rainbow Riches to sports-themed slots like Soccer Goes Wild.
If movies and shows are more your kind of thing then you’ll find titles like Planet of the Apes and Ted, themed around the Seth McFarlane movie about a bromance with a talking bear. These entertainment-based games are especially diverting to play because they also often feature scenes from the movies themselves.
Then there’s the contrast between the demands placed on you when you’re playing poker and when you’re on the slots. Decision-making is kept to a minimum and many games even have an auto-play function which just keeps on rolling for as long as you want it to continue.
Ready to rejoin the action
So, after a few minutes of placing your fate in the hands of a random number generator that is at the heart of all modern-day slots, you’ll be ready to get back into the poker action and take back control. And, hopefully, your game will be all the better for the break.
