This is an interesting article from the Las Vegas Business Press. It talks about studies being done in Ontario, and in particular in Niagara Falls, to “‘study how casino design affects gambling’ with an eye toward suggesting how casinos can redesign themselves to be less conducive to gambling.”
Why might casino operators be sensitive to charges that their designs induce gambling? Commercial gambling is based on the premise that customers will lose more than they win. The house edge is, in a sense, the premium players pay for the privilege of playing any time they want in an honest game. Like any other business, casinos use marketing to lure patrons in. Casinos are obviously designed to facilitate access, comfort and pleasure.