The casino is a place where people spend money, and it’s designed to make that money easier to spend. From the lighting to the scents to the physical layout, casinos are geared towards making you want to gamble and keep gambling. In fact, Business Insider reports that the entire environment is designed to manipulate you into spending more money. Here are nine tricks that they use to keep you in their clutches.
1. They don’t make it clear that it’s real money.
It’s happened to all of us: You stride into the Luxor, Mohegan Sun or Tropicana brimming with confidence and a wallet full of cash. Your plans are to have a few hours of enjoyable, sensible gaming and maybe two rounds of drinks. Hours later, you have no idea what time it is or how much money you’ve blown. You’ve been sucked into the casino’s trap and left with no idea how you got out of it. It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to escape from.
A casino’s house edge, which is the expected loss on all bets placed by patrons, is based on the rules of each game and its specific set of optimal plays. The mathematicians and computer programmers who study these odds are called gaming mathematicians. Casinos know their house edges and variance, and they employ a team of these professionals to keep track of their games and the players’ behavior.
2. They waft scented oils to lure you in.
The smell of a casino is often reminiscent of a bakery or restaurant, which can lure in customers and make them stay longer. Many casinos also have a wide array of odors to create this manufactured euphoria, including vanilla, chocolate and citrus. These scents are mixed with a variety of other sounds, including uplifting music and the noise from slot machines, to create a complete experience that makes people feel happy and safe. One study found that a casino with a pleasant scent had gamblers who spent 45% more than those without it.
3. They have special rooms for the big bettors.
The biggest bettors are a casino’s bread and butter, so they are given special rooms to play in away from the main floor and surrounded by more experienced staffers. They also get special inducements like free spectacular entertainment, transportation and luxurious living quarters. This ensures that even if they lose, the casino will make a profit and will be able to pay their bills.
4. They use a system of near-misses to keep you betting.
This is one of the most effective and subtle methods a casino can use to encourage you to keep playing. Near-misses are when a machine almost hits a jackpot or gets close to a bonus feature on a video game. The feeling of a near-miss is more exciting than winning and can keep you from walking away, especially when you are losing a lot of money. Casinos also use curves and strategic placement of game sections to catch your eye as you walk through, so that you will stop and take another chance.