Casino Decor Effects on Gambling Emotions and Intentions

What the study found

Gamblers rated simulated casinos on at-risk gambling intention, pleasure and restoration. The playground design scored higher than the gaming design on all three measures, as did female participants. The link between pleasure and at-risk gambling intention was fully mediated by restoration. Effects of decor information load depended on macro design and gender.

Limitations

Simulations, not real casinos; intentions rather than behaviour.

Neurodesign interpretation

Counterevidence to the assumption that restorative qualities only serve occupants. The same qualities can serve the operator.

Possible design implications

Restorative design is not automatically benign: here it went with stronger at-risk gambling intention.

Study design

Experiment varying macro design and decor elements in simulations

Population

Gamblers. Sample: 484 (241 male).

Setting

Simulated casino interiors

Field

Environmental psychology, gambling environments

Mechanism

Directed-attention fatigue / restoration, Arousal + activation

Spatial variable

Casino macro design (playground versus gaming), lighting, crowding, colour, machine clustering, layout symmetry

Keywords

casino, gambling, restoration, atmospherics, playground design

Notes and follow-up

Related records: ND-0167. Published online 2009; print issue 2010.