In a recent review of more than 15 psychological studies on casino design, British psychologist Mark Griffiths found no conclusive research on the effect of windows or wall clocks on gamblers.
Granted, if the lack of clocks at the Horseshoe is what’s making that chain-smoker go to town at the Sex and the City slot, Nita probably wouldn’t be the one to tell me. Direct sunlight, he continues, would create a glare on cards and machines. “We recognize that everybody has their own time devices, whether it’s their phone or their watch,” he says, pausing under a glittering chandelier. While you won’t see natural light or clocks in most casinos, it’s not for the reasons you might think, according to Nita. As we walk through the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, general manager Dan Nita describes the “conspiracy theory” behind casino design: They have no clocks or windows so people will lose track of time and spend more money.
