Since the first online poker website was launched by Randy Blumer in 1996, the industry has witnessed a massive boom in popularity. Blumer’s Planet Poker was born in the early ages of the internet and at a time when people were actively looking for ways to communicate and enjoy time with others electronically. So it was no surprise that the online poker website became an almost instant hit.
Shortly after its release, the demand for online poker rooms became more widespread. It led to other competitors like Paradise Poker and Party Poker, with the latter eventually becoming one of the largest sites in the world for a while. But despite the immense popularity of USA online poker websites at the time, the industry’s most significant breakthrough came in 2003 when Chris Moneymaker, an online poker player, won the 2003 World Poker Series after qualifying through a PokerStars satellite competition.
Since then, the industry has been exploring different innovative ways to help propel it to new heights. One of which is the use of electronic music in virtual tables. Here, we’ll explore the use of electronic music in USA online poker websites and their roles in the industry’s growth.
Electronic Music on Online Poker Websites
Electronic music is mainly used in online poker websites because of its ability to create an engaging and stimulating environment for players. There are different variants of electronic music, and the type being used depends on the online poker websites. Here are some electronic music types common in online card rooms.
- Techno Music: Techno is one of the earliest forms of electronic music, with its history dating back to the early 80s. Due to its fast tempo and repetitive beat patterns, it’s mostly used in online poker rooms to create a sense of tension and keep players on the edge of their seats.
- House Music: Characterised by its soulful vocals, 4/4 time signature, and strong baselines, house music, is one of electronic music’s most popular variants. It’s loved because its pulsating rhythms stimulate feelings of euphoria and energy, allowing players to get into the mood when playing poker.
- Ambient music: Ambient music has a history in the gambling scene, and it’s widely used in online video slot games. It’s a style of music that focuses more on atmosphere and tone rather than traditional music rhythms. It’s aimed at relaxation and is used in quiet moments, like when players are waiting for a new round.
- Trance music: Trance is an electronic music variant born in Britain in the 90s. It uses repetitive rhythms to induce a trance-like feeling in its listeners. With trance music, the emotions are high; there’s euphoria and feelings of uplifting rush. It’s used in online poker card rooms to keep players excited and entertained.
Roles of Electronic Music in Online Poker
Even before the invention of online card rooms, poker houses have been using music as a tool to influence players’ decision-making. But since the early 2000s, electronic music has become a vital component in virtual poker rooms. Here are some of the essential roles it plays.
I. Creating an Atmosphere
Due to their fast pace and repetitive rhythmic patterns, electronic music often creates an exciting and engaging atmosphere in online card rooms. There’s no denying that music can induce specific emotions in humans, and electronic music helps in generating feelings of excitement and energy.
Also, other types of electronic music, like ambient music, can help set certain moods, like moments when players need to relax and plan their next moves. Ultimately, online poker rooms use electronic music to fuel the player’s emotions and enhance their playing experience.
II. Ease Stress and Anxiety
Sometimes players log in to gambling sites after a long stressful day, and excessive stress has been confirmed as one of the most common triggers of anxiety. Electronic music has mood-affecting properties that calm the body and mind. When you listen to electronic music, your cortisol levels and heart rate start to drop, and endorphins are released.
Endorphins are the body’s stress killers as they produce feelings of euphoria and happiness and also promote calmness and relaxation. When players are relaxed and stress-free, they enjoy poker better and make better decisions. This is one of the roles of electronic music in online poker rooms.
III. Create a Sense of Community
Electronic music has a beautiful culture surrounding it, and virtual card rooms can utilise this to create a sense of community among its players. By playing music that players love and connect with it, gambling sites can generate a feeling of togetherness and shared experience among players from different parts of the world.
The Bottom Line
Music is one of the powerful tools that can be used to control people’s emotions and moods. The use of music in poker houses and slot machines can be traced back over a century ago, and it’s safe to say that this trend hasn’t stopped.
Electronic music has become integral to online poker rooms in the last two decades. In this article, we discussed some of the common types of electronic music used in US online poker rooms and the roles they play.
