How Casinos Use the House Edge to Keep Gamblers There

A casino is a place where champagne glasses clink, locals and tourists mingle, and the potential for big wins abounds. But no matter how many rounds of blackjack you play, or how much you put down on a slot machine, one thing is certain: The house will always come out the winner in the long run. That’s because casinos have a built-in advantage, known as the house edge.

The designers of a casino plan every aspect of the experience to encourage gamblers to spend more money than they have. They use sounds, lights, and physical design to create an environment that is welcoming yet hard to walk away from. And it’s not just about creating a fun atmosphere; they also want to keep gamblers there for longer than they would otherwise, and betting more money than they should.

To do this, the designers make sure you can’t see a clock, so you don’t know how long you have been gambling. And they make the bathrooms far away from gaming areas, so you will have to wander through several opportunities to press your luck before you get a chance to relieve yourself.

They also use the sunk cost fallacy to encourage gamblers to continue putting their money at risk, even after they’ve lost. For example, a slot machine might have a $28 maximum bet, but you can earn enough points to cover the cost of a $28 entree, making you feel like you’re still winning even when you’re losing.