Music to your ears
Apart from their alternative use as a venue for music concerts, casinos are rarely associated with music. Casino owners are very clever though and are well aware of all the psychological tricks of music – this includes, of course, playing it quietly so as not to disturb the ‘sounds of winning.’ Casinos make sure that their background music is more of a consistent hum rather than any chart music or songs which reach a crescendo. This may seem a little extreme, but players can keep a subconscious tab on how much time they’re spending gambling if they can hear a well known song. Moreover, a song with a dramatic climax could prove a distraction from those alluring slot machines, so it’s far more beneficial for players to have a consistent sound that encourages them to carry on, just like the dulcet tones around them.
It’s one of the oldest industries of all time, but a lot has changed in the gambling industry over the years. More than ever, as land-based casinos continue to battle it out with their online competition, owners are looking into new techniques to keep gamblers playing and make sure their revenues stay high. Next time you’re in a casino, keep an eye (and ear) out for these tricks….
Don’t look down
While your ears play a vital part in pushing you to play on, your eyes can also easily be deceived too. If you’ve ever dropped a penny in a casino, you’ll have noticed that the floor is covered in a repetitive, garish pattern – one that has been specifically designed to encourage you to play on. For the focused gambler, or indeed, the slightly inebriated, an aesthetically displeasing floor encourages players to look straight back up at the machine or table at which they are playing. Add that to the generally disorientating atmosphere around you in general – with mirrored ceilings and completely non-linear designed slot machines layouts, players can be fooled into thinking there truly is no escape.
Lost in time
The music played at different times of the day and night is always set to a certain mood. In the daytime you are more likely to hear light-hearted uplifting music to make you feel comfortable in your surroundings. In the evening the beat picks up a little as the party mode sets in for many and yet the music keeps you playing. While there is obviously no ban on wearing a wrist watch in a casino, you will notice that there are no clocks mounted on the walls either. Casino bosses want you to believe you are in a completely time-free zone where you can continue gambling long into the night, or day.
It’s a scary thought that we can all be manipulated by these seemingly simple tricks, but with the online competition out there, including sites like Casino Saga, which point customers in the direction of online casinos, it’s no wonder that casinos employ these tactics. So, should you ever visit a casino, make sure you tell yourself your limits, and make sure you’re always in control of your senses. The music is to casinos what the Spider web is to the Spider.
