If you’ve been in a casino before, you may well have commented on the ugliness of the carpet. While the casual observer may consider this simply a matter of bad taste, the fact is that a considerable amount of thinking has gone into choosing every “ugly carpet.” While they’re expected to endure heavy foot traffic, they’re also designed to offer the gambler a range of psychological benefits. What’s more, when playing casino table games such as poker, roulette and blackjack, your understanding of hideous carpets can be a great conversation starter! Read on as we answer the question, why are casino carpets so ugly?
The Role of Market Research
From carpet and game selection to the theme of the room, market research plays a pivotal role in a casino’s design. Guided by in-depth demographic and geographic research, ugly carpets are designed to keep players awake so that they’ll spend more money.
With so many external and internal factors to consider, the process of conducting market research has to be meticulous and methodical. For example, gamblers in Boston may react better to green carpets since their home team, the Boston Celtics, wear green threads, whereas gamblers in Los Angeles may not react so well to the color since they’re arch-rivals.
At a subconscious level, our minds are constantly being influenced and stimulated by our environment, whether it’s an overcrowded casino or an ugly carpet. From here, certain triggers are sent to the brain, which dictate our moods, feelings and emotions. But it isn’t just land-based casinos where market research is extensively used. Online casinos, too, take full advantage of the perks of knowing more about their customers. Online casino games are chosen based on popularity and demand. For example, an online casino in Las Vegas may promote online slots and online roulette on their main page since they’re two of the most commonly played games in the state, whereas an online casino in another state may prefer blackjack and proudly showcase this preference in the way their site promotes, for instance, online blackjack with a live dealer.
The Role of an Ugly Carpet
Littered by distasteful colors and questionable patterns, the role of an ugly carpet is to encourage players to look up rather than down – that is, to remain fully engaged with their game. For dealers and other players, there are few things more frustrating than having to wait for a distracted player to make their move. Popular casino games such as roulette and blackjack are supposed to be exciting, fun and social. The role of an ugly carpet is to ensure players are constantly engaged and that these standards are met.
Tried and tested, unattractive carpets encourage visitors to look up to the lights, games, sounds and other players, leaving them less inclined to inspect the poorly lit carpet – which will cause drowsiness and boredom.
Interestingly, there are similarities in the approach to designing casinos and grocery stores. In both cases, the design is heavily influenced by market research. A grocery store, for instance, will always have its most popular items, such as milk, eggs and bread, placed at the back of the store to make customers walk past other, less popular items. This is why chocolates are in the front and meat in the back. The aim is simple: to make sure consumers buy more than they originally intended to.
Factors To Consider When Installing a Carpet
At the height of the season, popular casinos endure thousands of gamblers on a daily basis. The risk posed by such heavy foot traffic is obvious since extensive wear and tear will necessitate the annual replacement of carpets. A second peril is dirt and stains, which means that the best-suited carpet must be easy to clean on a very regular basis. Then there’s the issue of acoustics. With so much exciting action going on, casino halls are known to be very loud – which is fine and exciting. Up to a point. Beyond that, a good carpet must be able to absorb and mute the sound, allowing players to concentrate and chat amongst themselves with ease.
Visiting a Casino for the First Time
As for important things to know when visiting a casino for the first time, ensure that you’ve familiarized yourself with their age restriction and dress code in order to avoid disappointment. Sometimes, something as simple as footwear can dictate whether you’re allowed in or not.
Other things to be mindful of are casinos’ strict no-filming policies, as well as their in-house rules. If you’re used to playing online casinos for real money, it’s important to remember that each casino operates differently, whether in terms of roulette rules or minimum buy-in allowance. So, be sure you’re clued up before entering.
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