Beneath the flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos stand on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed their patrons of cash. From the very first roll of dice or spin of the roulette wheel to the final draw of cards, every game has built-in odds that guarantee that the house will eventually win. This advantage is referred to as the house edge and it exists in every game of chance, except for video poker, which allows skillful players to reduce the house’s edge.

Casinos use a variety of psychological tricks to make gambling seem irresistible and difficult to walk away from. From sound and lighting to the physical design of a casino, there’s an art to designing a casino that is at once welcoming but hard to step away from.

Whether it’s the money-changing effect of turning cash into chips or the sunk cost fallacy, there are many ways casinos trick their patrons into spending more than they plan. But there are also tried and true strategies that any casino can implement to improve its discoverability, attract more customers, and keep them coming back for more.

Casinos offer a variety of attractions that appeal to all different types of gamblers, including food, entertainment, and non-gaming services. But to appeal to millennials and Gen Z, casinos must focus on elevating the experiences they offer and providing them with the right online marketing strategy. This will include offering a diverse range of gaming options, elevated entertainment and food options, and incorporating digital components into floor games.