Casino design from the floor plan to slot machine illustration

You have to look back more than 350 years to find the first land-based casino, which historians estimate to have been in Venice. In 1638, the Great Council of Venice sanctioned establishing a gambling house called the Ridotto during the carnival season to offer controlled gambling to local patrons.

It wasn't until the end of the 19th century and the thriving nature of Monte Carlo's gambling landscape that global business people and entrepreneurs began to take a genuine interest in casinos. While everywhere around Europe had imposed restrictions, Monte Carlo provided a hub for gambling enthusiasts.

In 1941, the casino began taking a more modern shape, one that many of us would recognise today. The Las Vegas Sands opened in 1941 and laid on many classic games, including roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and even a version of the modern-day slot. Horse racing and other sports betting opportunities also arose.

As little as a decade ago, casino floor plan architects would dive into a gambler's mindset and construct an outline to keep prospective patrons lost in gambling. Now, designers are exploring a safer and more responsible approach. It's more about consumer experience and encouraging a mindful strategy among players.

Below, we examine how a casino design is an excuse for architects to push the limits, the psychology of the interior, discuss how old methods are being replaced by fresher ideas, and the challenge in recreating a similar, land-based feel to online table games.

Land-based casino design

All architects like a challenge, and the casino floor canvas is one of the most nuanced. There is a balance between interior design and luxury, psychology and art, walkways and air vents, and exits and entrances.

Failure to get it right can have harmful effects on the customer, which in turn will harm the long-term success of a casino.

Here are some examples of casino floor design plans and how their intricacies can significantly impact a player's mindset.

Maze floor

One old-school approach by casino floor architects would be to create a labyrinth-like casino space, packing a space with thousands of classic live table games, slots, jackpot games, and more.

The average casino floor size is between 80,000 and 100,000 square feet and the average casino has between 1,000 and 2,000 slot machines. If you employ the Maze tactic using these averages, then one can imagine the scale.

The thinking behind it was simple - encourage the player to lose themselves on the floor and promote further punting rather than having them find the exit.

Times are moving on, and even casino bosses can acknowledge this is a problematic method.

Playground floor

The newer philosophy casino floor planners employ is the Playground Floor model, which brings forward friendly, interactive, and accessible forms of entertainment.

An excellent example is how current floor plans have veered away from creating rows and rows of slots, akin to the maze model, and instead placed games in clusters for like-minded enthusiasts to gather around and cheer each other on.

The Playground Design means a larger space for other sociable games, such as Craps, the potential for live entertainment, and new types of live table games with new and exciting mechanics.

Instead of segregating gamers, the playground model attempts to bring them together.

Atmospherics: Light, Sound, and Scent

Light has a profound effect on a human's psyche and physiology. Sound connects us to people and situations, communicating in ways our other senses cannot. Scent plays a role in memory formation and can elicit powerful memories and feelings.

There has been plenty of research on the atmospherics of a casino floor. A study performed by Meyer and Johnson, titled Casino Atmospherics from a Customer's Perspective: A Re-Examination, found that "three of the five elements of the atmosphere were significantly and positively related to gaming customer satisfaction."

The paper surmises that: "casino industry managers must not overlook the importance of creating the "right" kind of atmosphere in the casino to enhance player satisfaction."

Online casino design

There are obvious elements an online casino cannot replicate. Guests cannot relax in comfort on opulent furniture or sit down for a luxurious meal at an extravagant restaurant.

The average casino has between 2 and 4 nightclubs and between 1 and 2 entertainment venues - you won't find these on your browser!

Still, the general commitment to creating an enjoyable, immersive, and engaging atmosphere for live casino games and online slots via a desktop or mobile device is a crucial objective for casino executives, at least according to the marketing manager of Lady Luck Games Agnese Broliša.

She told us:"The design must allow players to find and enjoy our games without any distractions easily. It should provide a seamless user experience, ensuring that players can fully immerse themselves in the captivating world of our games, such as the beloved Popeye.

In online casinos, games are the main attraction. Therefore, the best casino design effectively showcases the games at their best. It should highlight the enticing visuals, engaging gameplay, and exciting features that our games offer. By creating a layout that puts our games in the spotlight, we can captivate players and provide them with an exceptional gaming experience."

User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design

Ms Broliša, speaking about her role in integrating Lady Luck Games' products into platforms, also told us how important visuals can be in user interface and user experience.

She said:"I ensure seamless integration of our game designs within the online casino environment, offering players a visually appealing user interface.

To achieve this, I focus on creating visually compelling banners that capture players' attention. By delivering exceptional visual presentations, we attract new players and enhance the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of our existing player base."

The Role of Sound and Graphics in Online Casinos

While the user interface is crucial, so is the standard of graphics and sound in providing an exciting and engaging live casino and slot experience.

Game technology is moving apace, and old-school three-reelers cannot compete in captivating and holding the audience like the current releases from developers such as Lady Luck Games.

There is something plenty of today's most popular live casino table games, and slots have in common - high production values. Whether it's your average player or a VIP, all players respond well to a good quality of product.

But what do developers prioritise? What does symbolisation have to do with anything? Do myths play a part?

🎲 Table games: Creating Suspense with Simplicity

The link between playing cards and gambling has been in situ for decades (poker, blackjack, bacarrat), but that doesn't mean the innovation stopped with the advent of online gambling. Indeed, it blossomed.

Everything gears towards replicating the look and feel of an online live casino table. From the sounds of dealing cards to the dealer's instructions, it builds to creating player suspense, glamour, and rich drama, which is the magic formula of any table game.

🔴⚫ Roulette: The Allure of the Wheel

The whirring sound of a revolution, the noise of a small white orb racing around the frame, and the clickity-clacking of the ball coming to rest in one of the segments are part of the magnetic qualities of this ancient table game.

It is because of these enchanting elements that myths permeate around roulette. It has been referred to as the Devil's Wheel because all the numbers add up to 666, and there are plenty of theories about lucky digits of significance.

🎰 Slot Machines: the Evolution of Illustration

Online casino slots have come a long way regarding their graphical quality. With the evolution of powerful graphics and animation tools, developers can create incredibly realistic 3D environments that provide an immersive gaming experience for players.

Not only do these visuals add depth and beauty to the game, but they also help to draw attention from potential customers. In a super-competitive market for slots, graphics are vital in helping to create an elite and immersive experience that will keep players coming back.

How they do it at Lady Luck Games

Lady Luck Games is a developer of 50+ games, which is quite a feat considering it was only established as recently as 2019.

They can count gaming behemoths Relax, Microgaming, and iSoftBet as some of the big-name developers they collaborate with. They are quickly becoming a leading software provider in the iGaming sphere.

Ms Broliša believes her company's success is down to the fantastic work of its designers and illustrators.

She told us:"Lady Luck Games takes a meticulous and creative approach to the design and illustration of their games, ensuring a visually stunning and immersive experience for players. With a deep understanding of the power of aesthetics in gaming, Lady Luck Games focuses on every detail of the design process to deliver exceptional quality and engaging visuals.

The design team at Lady Luck Games works closely with talented animators to create visually striking and vibrant artwork that captures the essence of each game. The illustrations are meticulously crafted with attention to detail, ensuring that every element, from characters and symbols to backgrounds and animations, contributes to the allure that draws players deeper into the game world, fostering a sense of wonder and engagement.

The goal is to create a seamless and enjoyable experience for players, allowing them to easily navigate the game and fully immerse themselves in the gameplay without any distractions or complexities."

How will the design of casinos, both on land and online, develop moving forward? Can AI influence the development of slots and improve game quality and immersion?

Our editor-in-chief Aleksandra Andrishak believes the quickly-shifting technological landscape creates exciting opportunities for designers from all backgrounds.

She said: "The ultimate goal is to create an environment which minimises the potential for problem gambling while still providing a safe, fun atmosphere for players to enjoy. Casinos have already taken great steps in this direction, but more work still needs to be done. With the help of responsible gaming initiatives and ever-increasing amounts of research into casino infrastructure in both mediums, the future is bright."

She points to recent advancements in AI as a great example of how the quality of a slot design could improve:

"With algorithms fine-tuned by AI, developers will be able to create more realistic graphics, animations, sound effects and bonus rounds. Thanks to machine learning techniques, we can learn from player behaviour data to generate personalised bonus offers or customise payout options. These are exciting times to be a developer in the iGaming sphere."