Gamblers psychology: why does he stay in the casino even after losing?

Scientists of many countries pay special attention to problem of obsession with gambling. Karen Finlay, University of Guelph professor, studies gamblers behavior for many years. Her major discovery is that the casino arrangement and its interior design are well-though to the last detail and all the elements of it are carefully selected. It is made for creating comfortable atmosphere in the facility, all to attract them to the establishment: bright lights, specific sound effects, brilliance and beauty of slot machines... If the player doesn’t get to this atmosphere for a long time, he feels discomfort.

Karen Finlay has created a special lab for her studies, where she together with her stuff members created the most popular gambling area of Las Vegas. This lab is called 'Virtual Vegas'. He main goal of the participants of the projects is to define what moves a person who loses the control of himself in the process of gambling. He realizes in his mind that it’s time to stop and go home but for some reasons he doesn’t leave and keeps on losing.

There is an atmosphere very close to the natural one of the casino in the lab. The research is made here with results being fixated. Looking on how usual people become gamblers, how they lose the sense of reality, get caught in the process and pay absolutely no attention to what’s happening around them, scientists get the answers to those questions.

How does gambling facility arrangement effect the visitors? What’s happening with human mind when he gets to the casino? How can people make an influence on degenerate gambler?

There are many volunteers in the research. We are talking masses; It helps with getting true data.

According to Karen Finlay’s research, the arrangement of the gambling facility is what makes the biggest impact on gambler’s behavioral factor. Everything is of great importance here: color, elements of decor arrangement of a gaming zone.

There are two interior s in the lab. One of them has natural lightning so the players can see what’s happening outside of the casino. Besides, 'Virtual Vegas' stud built long labyrinths of slot machines.

The results of the research are following: the room with the natural lights had fountains, mini-waterfalls, plants and the visitors felt themselves more comfortable and confident, they didn’t lose the sense of reality. Players in this room know what they are doing, when they need to stop and go home.

When the player sees a whole row of shiny slots that promise big winnings, he has another state of mind. There is no atmosphere of nature described above here, so the player feels anxiety and depression, and what’s even more unpleasant - detachment from reality. He is not able to control his emotions and just stops after losing everything. Tired and broken, he goes home.

This atmosphere makes gamblers sit nearby the slot and put a coin after coin in it, or make roulette bets. Even when the planned sum is lost, the visitor doesn’t stop. Robert Simpson, CEO of Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre, confirms it. This center donated 1.5 million of dollars to the University of Guelph on the reason that university research are of a great importance.

Modern casinos (especially online casinos) who value their reputation and don’t want to encourage the actions of degenerate gamblers, listen to the recommendations of scientists. They have responsible gambling policy. Besides, they contribute a lot to help those people who are addicted to gambling.

The research of Karen Finlay and her stuff who work at the lab help degenerate gamblers to become less dependent to the environment. They learn to control their behavior and actions, objectively asses the reality and don’t get emotions win over common sense. All the results of the studies are being published for owners of the gambling facilities to be able to use those recommendations to create a better atmosphere at their facilities.