As a former UX researcher in Silicon Valley, I once believed in systems that promised reward through effort. But when I stepped into the world of online slot games—marketed as 'luck' and 'celebration'—I saw something deeper: a machine designed not to entertain, but to capture attention, time, and hope. This is my story of waking up from the illusion of control, and why 'luck' might be the most dangerous myth we’ve built for ourselves.