How the Best Casinos are Designed

Nobody knows when people started wagering. Researchers believe that casinos have existed in one form or another in every society in history from Mesopotamia, Greece, to Rome. Evidence shows that in 2300 BC China, there were wooden blocks used in a game of chance.

Dice showed up in 500 BC Rome, and playing cards were seen in 800 AD. In the 1400s people played modern-day casino games like baccarat. The first known casino, Casino De Venezia, hit the scene in 1638 in Italy. Many countries had strict regulations against casinos, so most casinos and games like Slingo started in the 20th century.

Bill Friedman, The Classic Casino Designer

Bill Friedman is an entrepreneur who helps casinos solve marketing, operations, and design problems. He used his gambling addiction to solve many casinos you see today. He intended to find ways to keep gamers more engaged inside casinos, so he went on to study 80 casinos in Nevada to find out what drove their success.

His ideas were so great that most casinos revamped their design based on most of his principles. He has 13 core principles integrated into most casinos you see today. We’ll discuss some principles in this guide.

Aside from more relaxed government regulations, there’s a reason why casinos are gaining so much popularity. For starters, casinos offer an unforgettable and luxuriating experience to anyone who walks into one.

You’re greeted by a sweet aroma of excitement and glittering lights promising great fortune if you play your cards right. Is it accidental, or do they meticulously plan and design the layouts to make you feel that way?

Casino Wall Design

Loss aversion is the psychological principle that casinos use to keep players engaged. It’s a phenomenon where the potential loss is perceived psychologically or emotionally more daunting than an equivalent gain. In simpler words, gamers will spend more to avoid losing or recover than to win.

To capitalise on this principle, casinos make it difficult for gamers to track time. They don’t include windows or wall clocks, making it difficult for gamers to know how much time they’ve spent in a casino. They also include loud music, bright lights and charming sounds to keep players engaged longer.

Game Design

Casinos don’t want you to feel defeated and walk away. They follow the idea that people are likely to spend more if they receive positive rewards. Therefore gamers are likely to continue gaming if they progressively win, even in small amounts.

Casino games offer a variety of techniques to make winning seem more likely. They come with additional rounds and player bonuses to keep players encouraged to take more chances. They added several games in one slot machine, allowing gamers to switch when they’re on a losing streak.

The Maze Layouts

Casino designers adopted a theory known as the maze layout in the 1900s and 2000s. The idea is to attract players to the games and make it difficult for them to leave. They want you to feel lost and distracted on your way out. This concept is best utilised on the casino floor.

The slot machines are arranged in haphazard, curving arcs. Considering that most have alluring lights to attract gamers, it’s expected that gamers will wind their way through the machines and spend a few pounds along the way. Exists are hidden through spare signage, so players can see a variety of gaming machines no matter where they stand.

Luxurious Appeal

The casino maze layout theory was revised in 2010 thanks to the opening of high-end establishments like the Wynn and the Bellagio. They raised the ceilings sky-high and filled the casino floor with sculptures with more open space. The idea is to convert the floor into a high-end palace where players feel comfortable and relaxed.

When a player enters the floor, they no longer see the slots but the sculptures and the bright painted skies. Players get an inviting spa experience, so players don’t mind spending money even if the odds are against them. The concept was called the playground idea.

Slot Machine Layouts

Adding several slot games in one slot machine allows designers to arrange the machines in smaller groups. Designers can now avoid the long rows of similar slot machines to clustered machines in a circle. This design helps gamers to see different games from any vantage point.

Grouping a small number of machines helps people venturing as a group to gather around and play together. On the other hand, since the excitement in most table games is contagious, tables are placed centrally to spread the energy. More players are drawn to a table when someone is on a winning streak.

Conclusion

Casinos are designed to serve the needs of many. Designers take a distinct approach to ensure they capture most players who walk in. You walk into a casino and find yourself lost in a maze of slot machines and energetic tables. Before you reach the exit, you feel compelled to open your wallet and try a flashing game.

Researchers conduct extensive research to compel you to try a new game and spend more once you start playing. Read the above tactics to find out why casinos are immensely successful.