You don’t have to understand psychology to know that casinos are doing everything they can to make sure you keep playing. From flashy lights to constant jackpot sounds, they’re clearly using some pretty basic tricks. But did you know that there’s a lot more than meets the eye? In fact, most casinos employ psychologists and architects who know exactly what they’re doing.
Traditional casinos often position hidden exits behind games in order to confuse players. People who can’t find their way out—often because of labyrinth-like layouts—are more likely to just keep gambling, even when they start losing. However, this old design style is starting to fade away, with many newer “playground” casinos prioritizing natural lighting and easy navigation.
Lighting
Casinos will do anything they can think of in order to keep people from leaving — including making them forget how long it’s been since they last used the restroom. While it may not be the first thing you notice when walking into a casino, lighting plays a huge role in our perception of time and direction.
With ambient and task lights carefully placed throughout gaming areas and accent lighting highlighting architectural features such as sculptures or fountains, these tricks help create an ideal gaming experience for players. In fact, even the specific type of light bulb used has been shown to affect the number of bets placed by gamblers.
Layout
As mobile gaming becomes increasingly popular, traditional brick-and-mortar casinos are having to up their game quite a bit in order to stay relevant. Every interaction must be designed with purpose; even simply pulling virtual slot machine levers must be satisfying enough that players will want to keep gambling.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to designing a casino floor plan — so much depends on what kind of player each casino hopes attracts. One common choice is the maze layout: rather than guiding patrons along straight paths with clear sightlines, machines and tables are placed seemingly at random. This not only makes it harder for players to find the exit, but it also increases the likelihood that they’ll stumble upon a game they haven’t tried yet.
Atmosphere
Casino gaming is all about creating memories that will last a lifetime — even if some patrons wish they could forget them. So how do developers ensure their games feel real? By making sure players can see everything in front of them. Or at least that’s what the experts say.
“They have to be able to figure out where to go,” explains architect David Swanson. “That gets back to human nature—how we operate in space—and then just make sure you provide interesting things along the way.”
Catering to everyone
Sound
It turns out there’s some truth behind every gambler’s fantasy of winning big after hearing someone else hit the jackpot: Research has shown that gamblers tend to take greater risks immediately after hearing another player win on nearby slot machines.
This might be part of why casinos are so loud — aside from flashing lights, most people won’t even notice their money disappearing into a machine unless their attention is constantly being grabbed by something new. In fact, many casino architects actually design their buildings without windows so as to prevent natural light from revealing how long visitors have been gambling.
Modern gaming spaces must make an effort to be welcoming and accessible for guests with disabilities. This means more than just ramps instead of stairs or closed captioning systems; It requires cutting-edge solutions like top-of-the-line audio video systems that will use auditory aids for any hearing or vision loss players might experience during gameplay.
Visuals
The design of a casino is more than just the way it looks and its layout. It’s all about that vibe, you know? Think of a cascading waterfall or an eye-catching sculpture. Heck, even the right backdrop can make all the difference.
Now let’s talk about those symbols. Those flashing lights. The promotional banners with big letters. All of this is done on purpose to grab your attention and keep you locked in until you’ve given up your life savings.
Imagine hundreds, if not thousands, of people walking into multiple casinos a day. Setting yourself apart from every single one must be pretty hard to do. One way they found success was with LED displays.
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