It’s happened to everyone – you stride into the Luxor, Mohegan Sun, or Tropicana brimming with confidence and your wallet full of cash. You plan for a bit of enjoyable, sensible gaming and maybe a few rounds of drinks. But hours later, you’re not sure what time it is, or how many cocktails you’ve consumed, or where your money went. It’s a casino, after all, and casinos are designed to lure gamblers in and keep them gambling. They use noise, lights, and physical design to create an environment that is exciting and inviting, yet hard to step away from.
The games themselves are the main attraction for most casino patrons, with table and card games like blackjack, poker, and roulette providing a challenge of skill and strategy that can test even the most confident gambler. Slot machines offer a more laid-back approach to gambling and are often easier for newcomers to master. Whatever the game, there are bright lights flashing, sounds blaring, and cheers erupting when someone hits a big win, all of which reinforce that a win is possible and encourage gamblers to continue spending their money.
Casinos are also designed to be labyrinthine, with no straight aisles leading to the door and gambling tables lined up at every turn. This haphazard layout forces players to walk past gaming tables or machines they might not otherwise have considered trying out, and keeps them gambling longer than they would have without the visual distractions.