© All Rights Reserved 2026 | Privacy Policy
Tax ID / EIN: 23-7441306
Skyline of Las Vegas
Real news. Real stories. Real voices.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Supported by

Dark, claustrophobic casino or open and cheerful? YOU JUST CAN'T WIN!

We've all heard that old saw about how they don't have clocks in casinos to put in you in a sort of hypnotic state of gambling-enabled timelessness, how the dim lights make you feel anonymous and more likely to be naughty and irresponsible, how they pump fresh air in to enliven your fun receptors, etc. How, basically, casinos are  highly engineered traps for your worst impulses.

But, then look, over in Scotland, they make casinos seem more open and cheerful and friendly, and NOW THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT! From the Scotsman:

She said: "Before the legislation they had to be pretty grim places. The description is that they should be a bit like an undertaker's office. "But if you've got open windows, a bit of light and refreshments, they're certainly less intimidating. The industry has been trying quite hard to attract new groups of people. "The more you normalise something the more people will be drawn into it. So the numbers will go up right across the board."

I'd say something like "The casinos just can't win!" But that would sound too cheekily ironic.

Tags
As a longtime journalist in Southern Nevada, native Las Vegan Andrew Kiraly has served as a reporter covering topics as diverse as health, sports, politics, the gaming industry and conservation. He joined Desert Companion in 2010, where he has helped steward the magazine to become a vibrant monthly publication that has won numerous honors for its journalism, photography and design, including several Maggie Awards.