Casino Audio, Lighting and Visual Design
The casino industry has many facets, from the food and entertainment to security. One critical component is the audio, lighting and visual (AVL) design. It shapes the atmosphere and creates functional elements that enhance the overall experience for guests.
While games like blackjack, poker and roulette involve some skill, the majority of casino games are pure chance. The house edge will always eat into any player’s bankroll, which is why casinos do all they can to keep players gambling longer. For example, casinos have been known to strategically place toilets and restaurants deep within the gaming area to ensure players must walk past slot machines and tables on their way to use these facilities. This increases the temptation to make just one more bet. Also, the acoustics of a casino are designed to be highly distracting, and music and sounds are often played to enliven the gambling environment.
The lights, music and movement create a sense of excitement, and the acoustics are loud and disorienting to help create a distraction from the reality that the odds are stacked against them. Many other psychological tricks are employed to keep gamblers engaged, including the use of “near wins.” Slot machines and video games are programmed to generate near-miss outcomes, which trigger a similar brain response as an actual win. This keeps players betting more money and time in the hope of a big payout. This is one reason why it is so important to start with a fixed amount of money that you are prepared to lose and stick to that amount.