The word casino evokes images of twinkly lights, free cocktails, dazzling dealers and the thrill of trying your luck at gambling. While there is definitely a lot to enjoy in casinos — including the buzz of champagne glasses clinking and tourists and locals mingling — it’s important to remember that the odds are very much against you.
Despite their reputation for being places where people gather to socialize and try their hand at gambling, casinos are actually engineered to slowly bleed patrons of their money. They use everything from scents to dazzling lights to create a manufactured experience of joy and happiness to keep people coming back for more. For example, some casinos use scented oils in their ventilation systems to help guests relax. These smells combined with flashing lights, cheerful music and the joyful sound of slot machines create a pleasant feeling that makes players want to stay longer and play more.
In addition, casinos reward loyal gamblers with comps — free goods and services such as meals, hotel rooms and tickets to shows. This demonstrates to guests that the casino is interested in them and is rewarding their loyalty, even though they are losing money. Some of the most popular casino games today are video poker, blackjack and roulette, which require skill and strategy. These games are likely to continue to be popular, but the games and entertainment options that are the most popular now will not necessarily be the same five or ten years from now.