When was the last time you went to a brick-and-mortar casino? Now ask yourself this, how long did you spend there? Was it longer than you had planned or anticipated? If you answered yes, then you probably fell for the tricks that casino designers have long embraced. Casinos are designed to be entertaining, but they also use design elements and features to ensure players stick around as long as possible. The longer you’re playing, the better for the casino.
This is one of the more significant differences between brick-and-mortar casinos and online ones. You can visit one of the minimum deposit casino sites, play a few rounds, and then be done with it for the day. The same probably can’t be said for the physical casino.
Let’s break down some ways casinos are designed to keep you playing.
Beverages Might Be Free While You’re Playing
Here’s a secret many people are probably aware of by this point: depending on the country, city, and casino you play in, you might be able to get free beverages while you’re playing. Many casinos offer complimentary water and soda as long as you’re at a table or the slots. Players look at it as a huge bonus when, in reality, this costs the casinos very little. There is a huge return on investment with this free feature.
There Are Always New Fun Slots to Play
One of the worst things casinos can do is deliver an environment that seems boring, stale, and not very modern. Casinos realise they need to constantly appeal to their patrons, so delivering the newest and greatest in terms of games is a must.
Where you tend to see the most updates is with slot machines. It’s easier to swap new machines for old ones, and sometimes it’s just a matter of updating the software and mechanics. While these may not seem like a huge deal, they give players a reason to keep coming back.
You Don’t Have to Leave the Casino to Get a Bite to Eat
If you spend enough time in the casino, you’re bound to get hungry. To ensure you stick around and keep playing, casinos tend to have several places where you can eat. There is often a combination of fancy sit-down restaurants, more casual dining, and items you can just grab and go.
Lights and Music Are Designed to Keep You Engaged
Sleepiness and low energy are not what casinos want their patrons to feel. Once you start to feel that way, there’s a good chance you’ll be making plans to leave the casino and head home.
This is why the lights and music in these venues are specifically designed to keep you engaged and stimulated. It’s almost like the vibe you’d find in a happening bar or club in the evening. The casino’s goal is to create an atmosphere that fills people with energy.
There Are Very Few, if Any, Windows on the Casino Floor
Most indoor venues take advantage of natural light and play up the design feature. Office buildings, restaurants, and even stores often rely on windows to anchor the design concept. That isn’t the case for casinos. The fewer windows there are, the less aware people are of the time.
Casinos don’t want you to realise you’ve been there from early afternoon to late evening, so if you don’t see the sun setting and the sky becoming pitch-black outside, you may lose track of the time and stay longer.
Casinos Are Kept at the Perfect Temperature Year-Round
Temperatures can swing drastically depending on the time of year, so the temperature of shops, restaurants, malls, and other indoor venues is incredibly important. Feeling too hot or too cold is bound to frustrate people and cause them to leave earlier than anticipated.
Casinos are well aware of this, so they maintain the perfect ambient temperature year-round. They keep it cool enough so that you don’t break a sweat or start feeling sleepy, but not so cold that you’re uncomfortable. With that said, it’s smart to bring a light cardigan or sweater with you just in case.
There Are Plenty of Comfortable Places to Sit and Relax
One reason people may call it a day and head home from a venue is that they get tired of walking around and standing. It can be exhausting and painful for your feet and back. Casinos do a great job at providing many comfortable and inviting places to sit down and relax. Servers will even bring drinks to you while you’re relaxing.
There is never a shortage of seating around. There are even stools at the slot machines for this very reason. If you’re not preoccupied with your tired feet, then there’s a good chance you’ll stick around longer.
Casinos Often Feel Like a Maze
It’s hard to leave the casino if you don’t know where the exit is. That is exactly why casino designers create an almost maze-like atmosphere. The idea is that the natural flow forces players to go deeper and deeper into the casino, with no clear exits around. Sure, you can get out, but it will take some time and effort, and there’s a good chance you’ll play games along the way.
Casino Designers Are Smarter Than You May Think
As players make their way around a casino, they tend to enjoy the games, restaurants, shops, and overall atmosphere not realising just how important the design is. Casino designers employ all kinds of tricks to help keep players in the venue and spend more money without them even realising. The next time you visit a casino, you may want to look at things with a more critical eye.