When it comes to testing your luck at a casino, the odds are stacked against you. But it’s not just the structure of the game or the personality of the dealers that’s influencing your luck; it’s the design of the casino itself.
Loud music, bright lights and endless amounts of alcohol are only some of the elements of a casino that encourage you to bet it all. From Greektown Casino in Detroit to Soaring Eagle in Mount Pleasant, here’s what a gambler can expect to encounter in a night pursuing Lady Luck.
A timeless activity
Next time you’re in a casino, be sure to take a good look at the walls. Chances are, you won’t see any clocks or indications of time. Also lacking from casinos are windows, eliminating your ability to gauge what time of the day it is. Onlinecasinoking.com said removing a person’s sense of time encourages repetitive action, tricking gamblers into thinking they’re sitting at a table for a shorter amount of time than they actually are. Stay connected with time by bringing a watch or set an alarm on your phone so you’re forced to check the time.
Ambient music
If you’ve ever paid attention to the music in an elevator or at a shopping center, chances are the song contains soothing lyrics and a calming beat. Casinos use the same style of music, generally playing the same songs over and over to lull people into gambling.
But it’s not the music alone that captivates people. The interior design of the casino likely includes red carpets or red wallpaper. “Casinos are rather womb-like,” Business Psychologist Kati St Clair told the BBC in an interview about casinos. St Clair said the red colors and the soft, looping music “…contributes to the trance-like state of gambling. Nightclubs use the same sort of tactic.”
Food + alcohol = bigger bets
One sure bet in a casino is that you’ll eat well and drink plenty (if not too much). Depending on which casino you’re at, food and alcohol may even be free. And the drunker you are, the likelier you are to bet big and spend more cash. To avoid becoming a hot mess in public while blowing all of your money, enter the casino with a set amount of cash and leave your wallet in the car. That way, you won’t be stumbling to the ATM every 10 minutes with a powerful Long Island in your hand.
There’s something in the air tonight
Some casinos have been accused of pumping extra oxygen into their buildings, going as far as to using pheromones to over-stimulate people. Companies say the accusations are ridiculous as air quality testers frequent casinos and pumping extra oxygen into a building is illegal.
What’s more, casinos are generally filled with smokers and the extra smoke would cancel out the affects of extra oxygen. But the rumor of extra oxygen in casinos still persists amongst gamblers and has been affectionately dubbed as “casino air.” Gamblers have told stories of passing out at slot machines despite not drinking or smoking and developing general breathing problems after visiting a casino. Myth or truth? Take a deep breath and think about it.
The big kids playground
Bright lights, spinning wheels, smiling faces from workers are some of the other details that fill casinos. These elements, combined with the music and warm interior colors, create a sort of playground for adults. “Gamblers in a playground casino will stay longer, feel better, and bet more. Although they come away with bigger losses, they’re eager to return,” Karen Finlay, a professor at the University of Guelph, told Wired Magazine. “They make you feel comfortable, of course, but they also constantly remind you to have fun.”