A casino is more than a gambling hall; it’s a fantasy world filled with twinkling lights, clinking slot machines and the scent of pure excitement. But while it feels like a fairytale, casinos are real, and their design is intentional – designed to make you spend more money and keep coming back, no matter how much you lose. Here’s how they do it.

Gambling is social, so casinos create a buzz by mixing people of all walks of life together in the same place. Champagne glasses clink and the sounds of laughing players mingles with the whirring of slot machines, creating an energy that can’t be found in other places. In this way, a casino is as much about socializing as it is about trying your hand at luck.

Casinos are based on psychology and are designed to manipulate people’s behavior. For example, they play music to influence how you gamble. Studies show that when you hear a low-tempo soundtrack, you’ll bet more and faster than when you hear a high-tempo one. And they also use scents to manipulate your mood. A recent study found that people who walked through an odorized casino put about 45% more in the slots than those who didn’t.

In the twentieth century, casinos are choosier about who they let in, choosing to focus their investments on “high rollers.” These gamblers often have separate rooms from the main casino floor and can bet in the tens of thousands of dollars. In return, they receive comps that can include free hotel rooms, meals, tickets to shows and even limo service.