Gambling meccas like Las Vegas and Macau are huge tourist attractions for more than the allure of big winnings. These resort locations smartly market the flash and excitement of gambling with world-class options for dining, entertainment, and even culture. With so much to offer, though, how do casino resorts keep the attention of guests – at least some of the time – at their slot machines and tables?

Accommodating All Players

Casino resort design starts with an understanding that many different types of players visit. In general, casino floors are developed with three players in mind: high rollers, casual players, and hotel guests. There are also some key differences in how men and women play – with women preferring less crowded areas. A single casino floor must work for all of these players, so there's a science to it. The piece "An Inside Look: The Secrets of Casino Design" on 888casino.com features a typical casino floor plan that divides the floor into quads, with a circular center. One quadrant is usually reserved for high roller action, while the three are designed to attract hotel guests passing through to go to their rooms or outside attractions. Casual players weave around the outside of the same three quadrants with their eyes on the outermost machines and tables.

In addition to gender and player category, age range is increasingly important in floor design given the coming go age of the Millennial population. Millennials are the most social and engaged generation which lends itself to more social table games that appear to have skill involved such as poker or craps rather than more isolated games like slots. Savvy casino designs are increasingly geared towards this new consumer group in innovative ways. One such way is to consider more open and communal zones that facilitate consumer interaction such as lounges.

The Maze to Playground Evolution

If you visited casino resorts in the 1970s and 1980s, you likely were part of the "maze" concept of casino design. The basic tenet of this floor plan was to draw in all types of gamblers quickly and then keep them engulfed in the game play with no concept of time or the outside world. It's why slot machines, once in organized rows, began to be laid out in arcs that were a little more confusing to navigate. Las Vegas, especially, became known for this layout with it being a well-known fact that clocks and windows were missing from casino floors.

In the 1990s, a shift started to take place in how casino floors were designed and it favored more space and natural lighting. When the Bellagio and Wynn opened in the early 2000s, the casino floors had high ceilings that either let in outdoor light or at least mimicked the look of the sky. There was also more space for playing slots and tables with smaller clusters of games. This "playground" layout became the new norm, meant to excite players in a comfortable setting rather than confuse them. Instead of making players feel "trapped" on casino floors, studies have found that the playground layout puts players more at ease which makes them happier with wins and more forgiving of losses – all leading to players that bet more money in the long run.

Slots versus Table Layouts

Today's average casino has 10 slot machines for every table game, and earns 70 percent of revenue from slot play. Casino floor designers know that players prefer smaller clusters where they are not directly next to other players – it makes them sit, and play, longer. Grouping slot machines in clusters also allows for greater visibility for players who can see what is going on in other spots in the casino.

Table games aren't quite as flexible but that's just fine for casinos. Table gamblers tend to be more serious about what they want to play so they find the tables regardless of placement. The positive energy generated when one table is experiencing a hot streak is contagious, leading to more excitement at all tables.

Do any of these design techniques reflect your favorite casino? What casino resorts do you like most?

Natalya Keibler