How Casinos Keep You Gambling

It’s happened to everyone: You stride into the Luxor, Mohegan Sun, or Tropicana brimming with confidence and a wallet full of cash. You’re planning a little bit of enjoyable, sensible gaming and maybe two rounds of cocktails. But then hours later, you’re completely lost—you have no idea what time it is, how many drinks you’ve had, or what happened to your money. The problem is, casinos are expertly designed to keep you gambling as long as possible, using sounds, lights, and even physical design.

Casinos are designed to be labyrinthine, with no straight aisles leading to exits and obscured pathways between gaming sections. This keeps players from making decisions to stop gambling or go get food or drink, and it makes them more likely to gamble for longer periods of time—as they’re less aware of how much time has passed. Casinos also use gyrating music and bright lights to create an artificial state of euphoria that can lower players’ inhibitions and cloud their judgment, making them more likely to make poor choices.

Finally, casinos offer perks—like free meals and hotel stays—to loyal patrons, which can encourage people to spend more. In addition, the house always has a mathematical advantage over players in games of chance. This is true for every casino game, from poker to slot machines, despite the fact that some games have an element of skill (like blackjack). And while a player may think they’re on a winning streak in a video poker machine, they are more likely to lose than win when they play with actual money.