You’re in a twinkly, noisy casino with flashing lights, music and plenty of people gambling. You’ve filled up at the buffet and you can’t wait to roll the dice and see if lady luck is on your side.

But gambling isn’t as fun and glamorous as it looks in movies. It’s actually a form of psychological manipulation that makes players more likely to make risky decisions and spend more money than they intended. This is why casinos employ several psychological tricks to keep customers coming back for more.

For example, slot machines are programmed to produce “near wins,” which trigger the brain’s reward system as if they were a real win. These near-wins make players believe that they are close to a big jackpot and motivate them to play longer in the hope of hitting one. Casinos also use video screens to show other gamblers’ winnings, which reinforces the feeling that anyone can win.

Another way casinos keep players coming back is through loyalty programs that offer free food and drinks. These rewards are called comps, and they encourage players to spend more than they originally planned. In addition to promoting comps, casinos use lighting and visual effects to create an exciting atmosphere that makes gamblers feel like they are in a high-energy environment. This can make them more likely to make bad decisions, especially if they are inebriated. This is why it’s important for players to set a budget and stick to it when playing casino games.