You stride into the Luxor or Mohegan Sun or Tropicana with confidence and a wallet full of money, and you plan to have a few hours of enjoyable gaming and maybe two rounds of cocktails. But a few hours later, you don’t know what time it is, you’re bleeding chips, and you’ve spent more than you had intended to. How is it possible that a casino can make otherwise rational people — people who work hard for their income and make reasoned financial decisions on a daily basis — throw hundreds or even thousands of dollars away on the roll of the dice or spin of the wheel?

A big part of the answer is that casinos are designed to keep you gambling as long as you can. The longer you gamble and the more risk you take, the more profit the casino makes. That’s why a casino’s design, food and beverage, entertainment, and other amenities are all focused on making you feel good.

The slick, glossy design of a casino is also meant to make you forget that you’re not in your home or office. Bright lights, gaudy colors, and even the smells of a casino are designed to stimulate you and cheer you up. That’s why many casinos have no clocks on the walls, so you won’t have a visual reminder that it’s time to walk away from the tables or slot machines.

Finally, security is an important aspect of the casino experience. Every table has a pit boss or manager who can watch over the game and see if patrons are cheating. Dealers also keep their eyes on the other players, looking for blatant cheating like palming and marking cards or dice.