Slot near miss mechanics: are they designed to make you keep playing

I've noticed when I play online slots, those "almost" wins show up way too often. Like getting two bonus symbols and the third one just slips past or lands right above or below the payline. It gets my hopes up every time and I swear it makes me want to spin again even if I'm on a losing streak. It can't just be bad luck, right?

Is there actually something in the way these slots are programmed that ramps up the near misses on purpose? I know in blackjack it's just the cards and no near-miss drama, but slots seem to toy with your head way more. Does anyone know if this is actually a design thing to keep us hooked, or am I just overthinking it?