Read on to find out about how the design and layout of the casinos keep\nyou playing for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the last few decades the way we play in casinos has changed a lot.\nThe super casinos of today hadn\u2019t even been imagined in earlier days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whereas before you\u2019d have found gaming machines as soon as you walk in,\nnowadays it\u2019s not unusual to walk into an elegant lobby. It\u2019s constantly\nevolving to maximise pleasure – and profits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two main schools of thought when it comes to casino design: Bill\nFriedman with his classic casino design and Roger Thomas, the man who redesigned\nLas Vegas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst some recovered addicts might go on to help others from falling\ninto the same despair they escaped, Bill Friedman was not one of such nobility.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bill Friedman had a gambling addiction and used his experience to shape\nmany of today\u2019s casinos. His intention was to figure out how to keep players\nstaying inside the casinos for as long as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He went on to lecture about casino management at the University of\nNevada Las Vegas, as well as working as a casino executive and a casino\nconsultant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the process of revamping various casino hotels, he studied over 80\ncasinos in the Nevada region to figure out which factors drove success. What\nwas it that drew people back to play time and again? <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the games were the same there must be something in the layout that attracted more players. His theory proved so successful that grocery store design<\/a> is modelled on many of the same principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the course of 20 years he researched everything on the topic and it resulted in a 630-page book, titled Designing Casinos to Dominate the Competition<\/a><\/em>. This was published in the late 90s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His main focus for \u2018success\u2019 was determined by the percentage of\nvisitors who actually gamble, and how many of them return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After conducting his in-depth research he came up with 13 design\nprinciples. Many of these principles are now a core part of the stereotypical\nimage of a casino:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t know what time it is, then you can wile away the time with\nno worries or stress of external commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friedman\u2019s theory for design was based on getting the player into the\ncasino and keeping them there. If you\u2019ve got an idea of the time then you\u2019ll\nrealise you\u2019ve been there for far too long, or that you need to get to the shop\nbefore it shuts, and you\u2019ll leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best to remove all indicators of time so you stay lost in play\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can\u2019t find your way to the restroom? Now you can\u2019t get out? If this has\nbeen your experience in a casino, you can thank Friedman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Casinos want you to get a bit lost and distracted on your way to something\nyou absolutely need. We all need to use the bathroom at some point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And if the route there is long, winding, and littered with enticing\ngaming opportunities along the way, there\u2019s a good chance at least one of them\nwill take your fancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With smaller winding passages you\u2019re much more likely to explore as well,\nas the line of vision is greatly reduced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So sneaky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friedman realized that to maximize the visitor to player ratio there had\nto be something that appealed to all sensibilities. By having smaller rooms\nbreaking off, it allowed for different vibes and atmospheres to coexist under\none roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only that, it also creates a feeling of intimacy in which players are\nmore inclined to play. In areas with lots of seating, and gaming areas he\npushed for low ceilings. This is so there\u2019s no empty space above players\u2019 heads\nto avoid the lofty, open barn effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again the principle behind smaller, segregated rooms encourages more\nexploration from players, as you\u2019re more inclined to see what\u2019s behind this\nnext door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, you can get a taste of different styles without having to switch\nto another casino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Friedman, the players\u2019 attention should be solely on the gaming\nmachines. Passageways should be color coded in such a way that visitors are led\ndirectly to machines, rather than providing an easy exit route with games rooms\nleading off it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the machines themselves should be the d\u00e9cor. No need for anything\nelse, according to Friedman, who states that the machines should be the main\nfeature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Any extra d\u00e9cor should only emphasize the gaming facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst many small rooms are Friedman\u2019s great concept, he also found that\npacking them fully optimized success for casinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By packing the rooms with machines and keeping walkways narrow it adds\nto the intimate effect and stops players feeling overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As well as creating the close and intimate feeling, it should be well organized,\nso players know which section they\u2019re in. He advocates for clear, strategically\nplaced landmarks to help players locate themselves easily in the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friedman\u2019s argument is built on the idea that players must be lured in\nto play from the moment they enter the casino. By having playing stations\nimmediately inside the entrance, it makes it clear to players they\u2019re in a\ncasino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No space is wasted, and gambling activity is available straight away.\nWith big, hotel style lobbies the player is greeted by vast emptiness, which he\nargues creates a barn feel, rather than that of a casino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst Freidman\u2019s approach to casino design reigned supreme for a long\ntime, the style has been shifting since the publication of his book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roger Thomas is known as \u2018the man who redesigned Vegas\u2019<\/a>, who teamed up with Steve Wynn<\/a> to do up the Bellagio. He threw out all the usual rules and instead centered the focus on how to make players feel. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n His thinking was that nobody wants to make high-risk bets when they feel\ntrapped in a tiny room with no space to breathe. And with gambling requiring\nhuge amounts of concentration with all the sensory input, it can leave players\nfeeling drained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In his style of casino design, there\u2019s plenty of opportunity to take a\nbreather and revitalize the spirit. This in turn actually keeps people in\ncasinos for longer, since the environment is all the more pleasant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of windowless, boxy rooms he incorporated big, bright open\nspaces. He literally threw all of Friedman\u2019s rules out of the window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He opted for high ceilings adorned with beautiful flowing fabrics,\nskylights to let in the desert state\u2019s glowing sunshine, and European-style\nfurnishings to decorate the gaming halls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thomas\u2019s vision was all about inviting players into a relaxed\nenvironment, with clear lines of vision and easy-to-navigate spaces so they\u2019d\nbe more inclined to stay, and place riskier bets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And guess what? It worked! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now resorts with the money invest in his design layout because it\u2019s what\npeople prefer. People want to head to the casino to let off steam, to have fun,\nand if the environment is pleasing the whole experience becomes much more\nenjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Casinos are famed for their bright lights and the slot noises of pennies\ndropping (even though coins stopped being used a long time ago) because these\nelements all play on the senses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As humans we like to have the senses engaged and activated and that\u2019s\nwhat these methods play on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a study carried out in 2006<\/a> around aromas, certain smells wafted through the ventilation system increased play in slots by 46%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the study couldn\u2019t pinpoint exactly why this could be, it\u2019s thought that a pleasant smell makes players slow down and are therefore more drawn to playing one of the nearby machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The introduction of music has been found to add to the experience, but\nit seems most effective in the playground design casinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a survey, participants generally recorded a more enjoyable experience\nat such casinos, stating that they\u2019d be more inclined to stay there longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The playground design, as Thomas\u2019s design has come to be known, works so well because it focuses on relaxing players in order to boost return. Airports use a similar technique<\/a> in their layout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The check-in and security zone are very stressful and fast-paced. So as\nsoon as you\u2019re through to the departure lounge, you\u2019re invited to relax. And\nspend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duty-free and restaurants are on hand as you breathe a sigh of relief at\nhaving made it through to the light, open, airy spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how does all of this translate to the world of online gaming? With\nthe power of architecture and the senses removed, how can online gaming\nplatforms encourage more gaming?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re playing online, your gaming will follow the Friedman approach.\nWithout the opulence or fancy tricks around you, it\u2019s the game alone that draws\nyou in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gambling addiction has been found to be more prevalent in a Thomas-style\nenvironment. So despite access to playing becoming easier with the launch of\nonline gambling, the number of people with an addiction has remained much the\nsame for the last 35 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whilst playing at home you\u2019re more able to access games, but it quickly\nwears thin to constantly be alone. In the casino itself you\u2019re part of a\ncommunity and the frenzied atmosphere swoops you in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a study carried out in 2014, the chances of addiction and\nsuicide are much higher from visiting casino. Whilst playing at home, people\nshow more restraint. Thomas\u2019s playground style really is effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Online platforms are working to boost the addictive factor. Fancy\navatars and complex rewards systems are in place. As these develop further\nit\u2019ll be interesting to see if it overtakes offline casinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And with the current COVID-19 pandemic, will fewer people want to get their gambling fix surrounded by other people? Time will tell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources: Designing Casinos to Dominate the Competition: The Friedman International Standards of Casino Design by Bill Friedman (2000)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Comparison of Online Versus Offline Gambling Harm in Portuguese <\/a>Pathological Gamblers: An Empirical Study<\/a> by Pedro Hubert & Mark D. Griffiths (2018)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n D<\/em><\/a>isordered Gambling: Etiology, Trajectory and Clinical Considerations<\/a> by Howard J. Shaffer, Ph.D. & Ryan Martin, Ph.D.<\/em>![\"Slot](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_59739185-1024x682.jpg\")
The Evolution of\nCasino Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bill Friedman And The Classic\nCasino Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
No Clocks Or Windows\nSo You Lose Track Of Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Labyrinthine Design To Disorientate You <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Intimate Settings So\nYou Spend More<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Poker](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/wynn-casino-1182164_1920-1024x683.jpg\")
They Want Your Eyes On\nThe Prize<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slot](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_565543732-1024x657.jpg\")
Narrow Walkways And\nCompact Rooms Make You Feel At Home<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
They Want You To\nGamble As Soon As You Arrive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Roger Thomas And The Modern Playground Casino<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Roger](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/roger_thomas_designer-1024x576.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Roger](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/roger_thomas_casino_design-1024x576.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCasinos Play On All Of\nYour Senses<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Bellagio](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/17190318651_f095a7d32a_k-1024x512.jpg\")
Less Stress = More\nSpends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Design Of Online\nGambling <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Online](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_730672645-1024x682.jpg\")
Stripping Las Vegas: A Contextual Review of Casino Resort Architecture<\/a> Ed. By Karin Jaschke & S. \u00d6tsch (2003)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/io9.gizmodo.com\/how-casinos-use-design-psychology-to-get-you-to-gamble-1667182023<\/a>
<\/a>https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/2012\/03\/26\/royal-flush-2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n