TRICKS CASINOS USE TO MAKE YOU SPEND MORE MONEY
There’s so much more going on in
the average casino than meets the eye. However, most of us tend to be aware of
only what’s happening on the surface; we see only what the casino wants us to
see. Our senses are dazzled by the lively atmosphere that is complete with
lights, sounds, drinks and food, which keeps us entertained and comfortable,
feeding the thrill and hope that we’ll be the next big winner. Happily, we move
around the casino floor completely oblivious to the fact that these gambling
establishments are employing casino psychology tricks to keep us playing and
spending more.
There’s a reason why the casino
almost always wins. The following are 10 tricks casinos use to manipulate
gamblers into playing for as long as possible.
01. NO CLOCKS
If you don’t wear a watch to the
casino or you forgot your phone at home, good luck finding out the time. Time
has no meaning in a casino. It’s surprising that a lot of people really don’t
wear watches. Casinos know this and aren’t about to assist people in keeping
them punctual.Players who don’t know the time aren’t in a hurry to quit
playing. It’s a fact that when someone is engaged in an activity time seemingly
drifts by at a faster pace for them, and you will rarely see humans more
engaged than in a casino. Casinos are purposely designed to look the same,
regardless of the hour. With no clocks adorning casino walls it is not
difficult to simply let time slip away deep into the night without a care in
the world. Whether it is 3am or 3pm, the atmosphere is unchanging. When you’re
in the casino, your internal sense of time shuts off. All that exists is a now
that stretches on until you leave. Don’t expect to get the time from dealers
either since they are told not to wear watches for this very reason.Day melds
into night and night into day and schedules dissolve into nothingness. Add that
to the fact that if you’re in a casino you are most likely on vacation, and
that contributes to the indifferent attitude you may have about sticking to
your standard routine and spend more time than you had planned repeatedly
slapping dollar bills down.
02. NO WINDOWS
There are no windows or skylights
to help you determine if it’s light or dark outside. In most casinos there may
be windows near the entrance or exit, but once you get inside the belly of the
beast you will be hard up to see any. This tactic goes hand-in-hand with having
no clocks. When they get you in, they don’t want you to have any inkling of
what is occurring in the outside world. If you were to see it getting dark
outside, or even getting light with the dawn, your internal clock would kick in
and tell you it’s time to move on and do something else, like go to sleep.
However, this will tear you away from gambling and the casino can’t have that.
In addition, they don’t want you to see anything remotely interesting happening
outside. If you’re playing in a casino on the Las Vegas strip, there is enough
visual stimulation outside to draw anyone’s eye to it. Therefore, the casino
you are in will do its best to make that outside world nonexistent.
03. LIGNT , SOUNDS AND ACTIVITY
Casinos are a symphony of
non-stop sound, lights and color: bells ringing, siren-like lights flashing,
change clanging, slot wheels whirring, digital sounds beeping – it’s all
captivating. Why is it captivating? Because it’s non-verbal communication
saying, “Win! Win! Win!”. It gives the impression that everyone is indeed
winning when, in reality, most are losing. It’s such a happy place, how can I
lose?! Flashing slot machine lights and happy, up-beat noises captivate players
and boosts their moods, making them feel excited and hopeful that they could
win. All the machines, no matter the one you play, is alive with sound and
lights, drawing you in and encouraging you to continue placing your bets. In
addition to sound effects and other noise, most casinos also play a soundtrack
of music that is pleasing to the ear. In some cases the music may be soft,
repetitive and easy listening, for the purpose of putting gamblers in a
trance-like state. While sometimes music may be upbeat and stimulating.
04. LABYRINTH DESIGHN
You’ve had a good time and you’re
ready to leave the casino. That’s when you realize that you have no idea how to
get out. You start making your way through the maze of tantalizing slot
machines and game tables, only to find yourself encountering more of these
tempting traps at every turn as you search for the exit. Confusion is the end result. The confusion
you feel as you try to figure out the labyrinth-like design is normal, and it
is one of the age-old tricks employed by casinos to keep players gambling.
Casinos are virtually void of landmarks, making it easy for you to get lost.
This, in addition to alluring games, can make it difficult to leave. You know
the exit was near the video poker machines, but which set of video poker
machines? Moreover, more modern casinos have lower ceilings which prevent
someone from seeing any landmarks on the walls or ceiling in the distance that
may help orient them, but instead keep them hemmed in. For many, especially
those who have been imbibing alcohol, finding their way out is like
participating in one, large, interactive brain teaser.
05. PLAY WITH DIGITAL CREDITS, NOT WITH CASH
Although your gambling adventure
may begin with cash, after you feed your money into a slot or video poker
machine, your cash becomes digital credits. Without inserting actual cash into
the machine, every time you make a bet, it’s easy to forget how much you’re
spending. Once you cash out from the machine, a ticket is printed with your
remaining balance. Since you’re not holding physical paper money in your hand,
it’s easy to feed that ticket into another machine and keep playing. The only way to get your winnings or your
cash back is to visit the cashier. Casinos make it easy for you to play, but
not easy for you to walk away.
06. NEAR WINS
Except actually winning, there’s
nothing more exciting than to be extremely close to winning! And they know
that, and take advantage of that. All machines are designed to pay out very
small wins in the beginning in order to provide you with the incentive you need
to keep on playing. So while on the short run you win small amounts, on the
medium run you almost win.Has it ever happened to you to be just one cherry
away from the jackpot? You didn’t really think that was a coincidence, did you?
But if casinos gave out money to everyone who almost won, they would be broke
after one day. Every game, whether it be a table or machine, is designed to
payout small wins in the short run, but eventually take more from you in the
long run. Slot machines constantly make small payouts while perpetually being
one cherry or star away from the big jackpot. Players always win hands at
blackjack which gives them the impression that the game is winnable, but the
house edge is always grinding away at their bankroll and their money slowly
dissipates.Other games give the gambler a feeling of “control” such as craps or
keno. Here, the player has a direct influence on the outcome, such as throwing
the dice or picking their own numbers. This is yet another ploy that gives the
player a false sense that they can beat a game and therefore will cause them to
play longer.Basically, players overestimate their chances and probability of
winning. Near wins are what essentially keep casinos in business. Giving
players a taste of winning will almost always guarantee that they visit again.
07. LOCATION OF SERVICES
If you’ve been inside a casino at least once, then you’ve certainly noticed how far placed are the restrooms, restaurants or any other service for that matter. If you want to use the restroom, get something to eat, or cash out your chips, you must burrow yourself deeper into the bowels of the casino. The purpose is to make you walk through the casino, pass by a lot of very tempting games and machines. This way, maybe on your way to cash out, you might want to give that super nice looking slot machine as try.
Often, these services are wedged as far back as possible. This is a last-ditch effort to keep you inside since you have to walk through the whole place again and pass all of those tempting machines and tables. You have just cashed in your winnings and perhaps you may want to try your luck one last time before leaving. It’s the same principle stores use in hopes of getting a customer to make that last impulse buy during that long walk to the exit.In larger casino/hotels, the casino is buried deep inside the building itself. Taking various escalators, stairs, etc. is the only way to get to and from it and is one way to keep you on the property.
08. FREE PERKS FOR LOYAL PLAYERS AND HIGH ROLLERS
Free or reduced services,
otherwise known as comps, are another lifeblood of the casino. Players will
often receive coupons for free meals, buffets, shows, etc., or point cards
which enable them to win other prizes in order to get them to keep coming back.
It makes them feel important, even if they are low rollers and don’t gamble
substantial sums of money. Even if they lose, they still feel as if they have
gained something and are more likely to return. They are important to the
casinos because the vast majority of money made comes from these smaller
gamblers, so their business is even more coveted than the high rollers’. Are
they simply being good hosts to their patrons? Not really. It’s all calculated
to keep them there so they play more and longer. Whatever casinos give out in comps,
they make back hundreds-fold from the same people. It’s sort of like persuading
a child to behave well in exchange for a cheap toy.
09. FREE ALCOHOL
This could have gone under the
freebies category but deserves to be discussed independently. It’s as obvious
and transparent a trick as freebies but may be the most powerful. Free drinks work
on a couple of levels. First, they’re FREE. Unless you’re a teetotaler, who
doesn’t love free drinks? Cocktail waitresses swarm the casino floor, their
trays full of various drinks at all times. It’s no secret why this would keep a
player put, satisfied, and feeling cheerful. Next, alcohol makes even smart
players sloppy. If you’re a player who uses basic strategy in blackjack,
alcohol will slow your brain therefore corrupting your ability to make the
proper decisions. Gamblers will also become more liberal with their money if
buzzed or drunk, throwing their chips around like they’re nothing more than the
pieces of clay that they are. To many, sucking down free drinks while playing
enjoyable games is pretty much as good as it gets.
10. OXYGEN
One of the more bizarre tricks is casinos reportedly use higher levels of oxygen in their establishments to help keep players awake. Pumping in this extra oxygen from pressurized tanks, help gamblers to free refreshed and alert, which enables them to gamble for longer, without getting tired. There has also been talk that some casinos even release pheromones, which would promote feelings of comfort and euphoria, making the environment all the more appealing and addictive
Keep these casino psychology
tricks in mind the next time you visit the casino and use this knowledge to
your advantage. You’ll have a far more gratifying experience and a lot more fun
when you remember that, no matter how much a casino might try to trick you,
ultimately, you are the one in control of your actions.
SOURCE:
SOURCE:http://www.vegasmaster.com/casino-psychology-tricks-used-on-players/
SOURCE:http://realitysandwich.com/300010/10-tricks-casinos-use-on-you/
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