Psychology in a Casino
Created | Updated Dec 6, 2003
The great palaces of worship for the great god of gambling, where sin and vice run rampant, and you do things you realy shouldnt have done.
So, why are Casinos so damn compelling? For anyone studing Psychology, or just interested in it, Casinos are the place to be.
Lets start with right when you walk in. The Casino will try to set the scene for the entire eveing. The last thing it will do is look like a dump. You'll see glitz and glamor from moment A, why? So your impressed (how many times have you been unimpressed by a public toilet, and resolved never to go back, except in emergencies?? How many times has this negatively affected your perception of a shopping centre or Bar, or other social gathering place? Many times surely. The Casino will try to put on a show of Wealth, to try and get you to think "Tonight, this will be mine!"
So, what games to we find out the front, why of couse some of the most "Impressive" (Money Wheels) that have a huge house advantage, and a game that should be popular, with a low house take (Blackjack?) to give the aura of people winning.
The Aura of winning is extremely important, if it looks like people are loosing, or someone thinks the house has too big of an advantage, their likley to go elsewhere. This Aura is especialy important when people are on a loosing streak, it adds to the delusion that they will win it back (and some do, good on them) risking even more than they intended.
A major psychological trick a casino will use is the Use of chips, not money. They look like play money, feel like play money, and damnit, it doesnt smell like money. Dealers will also often get you to change smaller value chips for larger ones, citing "Convenience", but this is again a trick, its in hope that you will put the whole chip down, hopefully on a real succer bet (I'll explain that later). Dont be fooled, remember that chip is just like the notes in the back with that number on it (or a collection of notes to that same value) it is NOT monopoly money.
Next is the use of "Succer Bets", you will often find that the spots with the biggest area to bet in, and the biggest words in them are the worst bets in the house (this isnt always the case though). With Succer bets, The Dealer, or whatever the staff member is called in this instance, will point out often when these bets are won. Dont pay attention to them, If you dont know the game, stick to simplicity, and research the game later. This also applies to the most glamerous games, if its shiny, or lights up, its there to attract succers, no more, no less.
There seems to be a link, at least in my case, with performance/luck and the amount of people. Busy and noisy table = good. even if you dont have the same luck link, play at busy tables when possible, this way you get the whole game experience. If there are a lot of people around, and they seem to be talking about previous games of this type, then that is definately a table to play at, as it means that the house take is low to acceptable, and the game is quite enjoyable. In some areas, the "House take" is mentioned on the gaming tables, if it is, play at ones with a lower house take, if it isnt, learn what it is (there are plenty of stratergy guides for common games that will tell you), play the games with the lower house take, you have a better chance at getting home with your shirt intact.
Freebies is another tactic used. If you play the right stakes, at the right table, you will get free drinks, and sometimes free food. Longer term casino visitors can join special clubs and get rated, getting all sorts of freebies. Never make the mistake of gambling just to get a free drink, it may turn out that that free drink just cost you a heck of a lot, and besides, expect a free drink to come to you slowly, if your expecting a drink, your hardly going to leave the table, right? And if you dont leave the table, the houses chances of making back the amount of the free drink, and more, go up. Think of Freebies as a bonus, not something to be relied upon.
And finaly, Exect the Cashiers booth to be somewhere alkward, next to games with high house edges. Dont play those games, okay, its just monney grubbing. And never ever play slot machines, its a mugs game, you cant change the income, and you can never ever know if they cheat. Learn the right stratergies, bet no more than you can afford to loose, and you can turn casinos into an enjoyable, and perhaps profitable place.
So, why are Casinos so damn compelling? For anyone studing Psychology, or just interested in it, Casinos are the place to be.
Lets start with right when you walk in. The Casino will try to set the scene for the entire eveing. The last thing it will do is look like a dump. You'll see glitz and glamor from moment A, why? So your impressed (how many times have you been unimpressed by a public toilet, and resolved never to go back, except in emergencies?? How many times has this negatively affected your perception of a shopping centre or Bar, or other social gathering place? Many times surely. The Casino will try to put on a show of Wealth, to try and get you to think "Tonight, this will be mine!"
So, what games to we find out the front, why of couse some of the most "Impressive" (Money Wheels) that have a huge house advantage, and a game that should be popular, with a low house take (Blackjack?) to give the aura of people winning.
The Aura of winning is extremely important, if it looks like people are loosing, or someone thinks the house has too big of an advantage, their likley to go elsewhere. This Aura is especialy important when people are on a loosing streak, it adds to the delusion that they will win it back (and some do, good on them) risking even more than they intended.
A major psychological trick a casino will use is the Use of chips, not money. They look like play money, feel like play money, and damnit, it doesnt smell like money. Dealers will also often get you to change smaller value chips for larger ones, citing "Convenience", but this is again a trick, its in hope that you will put the whole chip down, hopefully on a real succer bet (I'll explain that later). Dont be fooled, remember that chip is just like the notes in the back with that number on it (or a collection of notes to that same value) it is NOT monopoly money.
Next is the use of "Succer Bets", you will often find that the spots with the biggest area to bet in, and the biggest words in them are the worst bets in the house (this isnt always the case though). With Succer bets, The Dealer, or whatever the staff member is called in this instance, will point out often when these bets are won. Dont pay attention to them, If you dont know the game, stick to simplicity, and research the game later. This also applies to the most glamerous games, if its shiny, or lights up, its there to attract succers, no more, no less.
There seems to be a link, at least in my case, with performance/luck and the amount of people. Busy and noisy table = good. even if you dont have the same luck link, play at busy tables when possible, this way you get the whole game experience. If there are a lot of people around, and they seem to be talking about previous games of this type, then that is definately a table to play at, as it means that the house take is low to acceptable, and the game is quite enjoyable. In some areas, the "House take" is mentioned on the gaming tables, if it is, play at ones with a lower house take, if it isnt, learn what it is (there are plenty of stratergy guides for common games that will tell you), play the games with the lower house take, you have a better chance at getting home with your shirt intact.
Freebies is another tactic used. If you play the right stakes, at the right table, you will get free drinks, and sometimes free food. Longer term casino visitors can join special clubs and get rated, getting all sorts of freebies. Never make the mistake of gambling just to get a free drink, it may turn out that that free drink just cost you a heck of a lot, and besides, expect a free drink to come to you slowly, if your expecting a drink, your hardly going to leave the table, right? And if you dont leave the table, the houses chances of making back the amount of the free drink, and more, go up. Think of Freebies as a bonus, not something to be relied upon.
And finaly, Exect the Cashiers booth to be somewhere alkward, next to games with high house edges. Dont play those games, okay, its just monney grubbing. And never ever play slot machines, its a mugs game, you cant change the income, and you can never ever know if they cheat. Learn the right stratergies, bet no more than you can afford to loose, and you can turn casinos into an enjoyable, and perhaps profitable place.
