The bright, temperate casino interiors keep you distracted from the fact that you are losing money hand over fist. The rooms also don’t have clocks because the people running them want you to lose track of time, so you don’t have a chance to leave and spend your money elsewhere.
This is why many casinos offer complimentary meals and even a free stay at their hotel. With a place to sleep and eat while you gamble, it’s hard to go anywhere else — especially when you’re on a winning streak. But the truth is that gambling is a very addictive pastime. And if you don’t stop, you will eventually go broke.
But how do they do it? How do they make rational people who work hard for their incomes and make reasoned financial decisions on a daily basis throw hundreds or thousands of dollars away based on the literal roll of a dice, spin of a wheel, or draw of cards? To understand, we need to look at what makes a casino unique.