When you walk into a casino, the place is filled with sights, sounds, and smells that are deliberately designed to lead you into spending your money. Here are nine tricks casinos use to make it hard for you to leave.
1. Free booze
Booze lowers inhibitions, and casino patrons are usually served nonstop complimentary drinks at the card tables, slot machines, and horse-racing screens. This is how casinos are able to offer such generous alcohol: they know that booze is one of the best ways to get gamblers to spend more money.
2. The labyrinthine layout
Casinos are intentionally designed to be a maze. There are no straight aisles leading to exits, and the interiors are often coated with window tint that blocks out the sunshine. This, combined with the fact that casinos often keep their lights at a consistent level day and night, makes it difficult for you to tell what time of day or night it is.
3. The sunk cost fallacy
The sunk cost fallacy is a psychological phenomenon that causes people to continue investing in something even after it becomes clear they are losing. This is why casinos offer rewards programs that let players earn points with every dollar they play, even if they lose it. Rack up enough points, and you can earn a free meal at the casino’s restaurant.
Whether you’re an expert poker player or just a casual gambler, the thrill of the casino is unmatched. The adrenaline rush that you feel when placing a big bet on a blackjack table or in the final moments of a game of roulette can’t be replicated at home, and it’s no wonder that millions of people flock to Las Vegas each year to experience it for themselves.