Las Vegas is an industry leader when it comes to themes and special designs in contemporary casinos. For the most part, Vegas casino layout and design plans center on escape and imagination, two of the major factors that contribute to the fascination that draws in potential gamers. Design of space inside a casino may center on strategic placement of machines, arrangement of table games, traffic patterns, color schemes and aesthetics, chair design for maximum player comfort in seating, sight lines for navigation, and helpful and unique signage.
Casino Guide: Designing Casinos to Rule the Competition
Entertain, build a dreamy atmosphere, and arouse the senses: that’s what good casino design is all about. Most casinos don’t have windows to the outside, clocks or water fountains – nothing that would sidetrack a patron from the games or the availability of free cocktails. The typical casino layout encompasses a tremendous amount of square footage – you would need a casino map to get around the 171,000 square feet of slot machines and gaming tables at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Another feature of casinos is the intentionally poor navigation – these facilities are built like mazes, so it’s hard to find your way out. Then there’s the steady bombardment of noises, some of which are intended to give you false hope, because if you can constantly hear bells ringing on the slots, then people must be winning, right? Loose slot machines, which pay out more often, are usually placed near high traffic areas such as aisles or near the change booth, so more patrons can witness winners.
Very few casinos have more than one level, although The Sands in Macao is a glaring exception. Their casino map features various gaming and entertainment facilities layered above each other. This breaks the unofficial casino design rule of gaming facilities developed horizontally with any hotel towers being placed above them. Normally there would be no stairs within a casino, because owners want to allow free movement within the facility.
Any casino guide worth its salt would tell you that the theme of the facility is a vital concern. Support facilities like golf and the health spa are also important, since patrons base their opinions on the entire experience, not just the gambling. Attention must therefore be paid to the hotel tower, and the quality of the rooms. Another essential aspect to the casino layout is parking – players who have driven to a gaming area will often stick to a casino that’s close to where their vehicle is parked.
The layout of a casino is usually carefully planned in consultation with a casino psychologist, who will ensure that the different games are placed in positions that would encourage patrons to spend as much as possible. The psychologist tells the casino where to put the looser slots, and where the tighter ones should go. Almost every aspect of casino design and layout is done with the input of the casino psychologist.
The next time you find yourself roaming around, take a moment and realize that the experience was specifically tailored and created; the casino layout was designed to grab you, and your wallet!


