WHY DO CASINOS BLOCK PHONE ACCESS?

We explain why casinos frequently block mobile phones and cell phone signals. It is primarily concerned with safety, cheating prevention, and privacy.

Cell phones are permitted on the casino floor and are barely noticed when used in the slot area. However, the use of phones while playing at nearly any table game is frowned upon by casino staff and security. This article will explain why and how casinos can block cell phones.

WHY DO CASINOS BLOCK MOBILE PHONES?

Casinos have good reasons for not letting people use their phones on the premises, like security measures and protecting people's privacy. Another reason is a psychological strategy to keep customers playing.

1. Maintain High Security Levels

Security personnel are on the lookout for any suspicious behavior among all patrons, including those who are on their phones. Casinos don't want pictures of sensitive parts of the building, like the cages, to be spread all over the internet.

Criminals often use their phones or other recording devices to check out a business. They take note of where the CCTV cameras are and how many security guards are on the floor. Every piece of information gathered from a phone can show security flaws or blind spots, which can help management catch cheaters on the premises.

Staff and security guards also don't like having their pictures taken because they want to protect their privacy and safety. Imagine that you are a casino dealer and a disgruntled customer is photographing you. Are they going to use the photo to find out where the dealer lives or to dox them? Concerning situations, it's easy to see why a casino worker wouldn't want a phone to take a picture of them.

2. Safeguard the Privacy of Gamblers

Every casino patron objects to being photographed or videotaped without their permission. Because the hotel's management knows that most guests don't mean to include other people in their selfies or group photos, security often tells people not to take pictures on the property. To protect the privacy of their guests, casinos will even let people know when professional photographers are taking pictures on the gaming floor.

Individuals value their privacy highly. Consider a celebrity who has made a name for themselves through their clean brand image, such as actors in family films. A single image of that celebrity, which would take up less than 1% of any phone's memory space, can devastate that person's career. Using a cell phone to take pictures may deter high-profile patrons from spending their large bankroll in the casino.

Consider a family man with no known vices as an example. When images of him at a roulette table reach his family, they may cause marital strife.

3. Avoid Cheating

In this day and age of smartphones, there are numerous apps available to the public that give you an advantage over the house. One example is a card counter for blackjack, which players use to determine when to hit, stand, or double their bet.

High-end computers can use probability calculations and statistical formulas to figure out how games will turn out so that the player has the best chance of beating the house. Cheaters, for example, use a built-in laser scanner in their phones to measure the speed of the ball in a roulette wheel and send the data to their computer. The calculations on the computer give the user a good idea of where the ball will land.

Cheaters can also use phones to make money illegally by using an app that calculates the RNG of the program. When the app figures out how an online slot machine works, it sends a signal telling the cheater when to press the button to get a good result with a high payout rate.

4. Cut You Off from the Outside World

Have you ever wondered why there are no windows or even clocks in any casino? By removing any indication of the time of day, a player is forced to concentrate on the bright and loud attractions in front of them. Sharpening that focus will make players want to play for a long time.

Checking your email or social media timelines on your phone is an effective way to break the casino's illusion of time standing still. Even if the device is turned on, any incoming text or phone call can break your tunnel vision and return you to reality.

Smartphones have a way of distracting people from constantly spinning the reels in hopes of winning the progressive jackpot or the 35 to 1 single number roulette bet. The more time a player spends on their phone, the less time they have to play slot machines and table games.

5. Avoid Making Loud Phone Calls

Patrons and casino managers both frown on people talking on their phones while on the casino floor. Customers have a hard time keeping their voices down because the sounds on the casino floor are so loud. Callers must raise their voices to be heard by the person on the other end of the line.

Loud conversations hurt the way a casino works because they take away from the appeal of the sounds on the gambling floor. Every sound, from the music that plays when a slot machine pays out a lot to the sound of a metal ball rolling around a roulette wheel, is meant to make people want to play.

When a guest talks about their Sunday dinner, the casino's influence among other patrons is broken. When deciding whether to hit or stand on a 14, no one wants to hear about a person's last-minute dentist appointment or what they got for their in-law for their birthday.

CAN CASINOS BLOCK CELL PHONES?

With several legitimate reasons why casinos do not want their patrons to use their cell phones while on the gambling floor, how do they prevent them from doing so? Many popular casinos rely on the structure's walls to do their work. Phones can't connect to the outside world because of the thick walls that surround the gambling floor. To receive a signal, players must step outside.

Another way for casinos to discourage phone use on the gaming floor is through security and staff. Anyone caught talking to someone is immediately asked to take the call outside by security.

Because no one wants the attention of any security personnel, having guards roaming the floor may discourage players from bringing out their phones while on the gaming floor. People are less likely to pull out their phones when they see a security guard, a CCTV camera, or the dealer's watchful eye.

Traditional casinos see phones as a security risk, an annoyance to other patrons, and (most importantly) a way to hurt their bottom line.

On the other hand, mobile apps are being added to more and more new casinos so that people can use their phones there. Casino apps make the experience of a customer more like a game by keeping track of their bets, wins, and other actions. Players can also earn rewards by completing specific tasks while using the app.

To get the most out of their visit, patrons should follow casino rules regarding their mobile phone policy.