That’s an odd topic for an article, you’re likely saying to yourself. Understandable, but what I’m trying to illustrate is the mood a casino tries to put you in before you sit down at the blackjack, poker or any other game of chance.

Much like a car dealer, they’ve already accomplished the toughest thing in the process of separating you from your money – getting you to walk through that door. Once you’re there, what else are you really going to do other than gamble or buy a car? Have you ever tried getting a price quote for a car over the phone? If so, you know as well as I do the one line they all seem to have learned at the same place is “come on in, I’ll give you a great deal.”

Well, the casino’s version of that line is to carefully set the mood through lighting, music, vices and atmosphere. They’re creating the environment they believe most likely to loosen your pockets and put you in the mindset that it’s OK to lose. Either that, or they instill the idea that you’re going to lose anyway, and thus you subconsciously play as if you already have lost. This isn’t aimed at the poker group (where there’s a rake and the house doesn’t care who wins) as it is the blackjack tables.

And there is something to be said for it. A player distracted by entertaining music and a little alcohol is more likely to throw caution to the wind, and lose track of his strategy, money management, etc.., because he’s having a good time.

So watch for these blackjack online pitfalls. I’ve been in many casinos where you don’t hear music, either live or pre-recorded, and the only annoying noise is the constant ringing from slot machines. But there are plenty of others that employ these devices. And it shouldn’t be surprise, either. Casinos set up their floors like mazes to keep you in, keep it cool and breathable to keep you awake and playing, so it’s only natural and expected they’d try to tailor your mood as much as legally possible.

So should casinos such as Foxwoods be avoided? No, not necessarily. As long as the blackjack player is in control of his emotions, and his surroundings (hey, bring earplugs if you’re serious), it shouldn’t be a problem. But if you find yourself singing along with a tune and can’t remember what cards you just hit with, then you know something is wrong.