Casinos rely on a variety of tactics to lure guests into their gambling houses. From elaborate light fixtures to endless rows of slot machines, each detail is designed to appeal to a guest’s senses. But despite their glitzy appearance, casinos are still games of chance. That’s why they use psychology tricks to keep people spending more and craving coming back, even though they know that the house always wins.

Until recently, most casino marketers focused on demographics like age and education to predict future behavior. But while this is a helpful piece of the puzzle, it doesn’t tell you anything about why these visitors are in your casino today. They may be on a business trip and have an hour to kill before their next meeting, or they could be celebrating a bachelorette party for their friend. Either way, it’s unlikely that their interests will be the same five or ten years from now.

This is why it’s important for casinos to focus on understanding the intangible motivations behind their customers’ visits. Whether it’s the gratifying feeling of winning or the social connection that comes with engaging in the same activities as friends, there is a lot more to casino experiences than just money-spinning. Understanding what those feelings are and how to double them can help casinos improve their marketing results and make sure that they stay relevant over the long haul.