The Casineo chips have been designed to slow down the process of gambling. The conical shape prevents users from stacking their chips, spreading them impulsively across the betting area. The recessed coloured lines help both dealers and gamblers to distinguish between the economic value of the chips and the player to whom they belong. These lines also provide grip, allowing users to pick them up easily, whilst also helping them to physically differentiate the value of their chips through touch alone.
The conical wheel has two sections which rotate independently. The top section is rotated in a clockwise direction and the bottom section is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction. This references the process carried out with the wheel and ball in existing, traditional casinos. Once the wheel loses momentum, magnets hidden on the inside of the wheel select a specific ‘abstract’ number. This corresponds with the betting area seen on the right.
On the top section of the conical wheel there is an inverted ball. This references the roulette ball that was removed from the design due to the activating noise it made whilst spinning. The bottom section of the wheel has 38 ‘abstract’ numbers. This allows the product not to alter the existing odds of a roulette wheel. The abstract numbers were designed to increase cognitive load, slowing down the gambling process, as the users must convert these symbols to numerical values in order to bet, for instance, on their lucky number.
The table was designed to be round, as this shape was found to promote the most social interaction. This is because those sitting around the table become a collective entity, where no individual is isolated. The dealers also sit amongst the players, removing the authoritative hierarchy imposed by current casino layouts, where the formally dressed dealers stand on their own. The seating is low to the ground, referencing Japanese tea ceremonies. These ritualistic ceremonies help individuals to calm their minds and become aware of their inner self. Referencing this should help gamblers to break out of isolated states, reconnecting them with their environment.
The main base of the table is curved and soft to the touch, making it look more approachable, adding to the calming nature of the product. It also gives users slightly more leg room whilst sitting on the foam seats. The feet follow the curvature of the table and help to make the table visually harmonious, balancing out the walnut aesthetic.
The traditional roulette betting area was redesigned to be circular. This allowed for more possibilities to be explored when designing the table, leading to the rounded table shape. The layout of the betting area had to be iterated to prevent altering the odds of the roulette game. Every possible betting combination on an existing roulette table is possible on this circular design. The hole seen in the middle of the table has been designed to allow dealers to easily discard losing chips. The betting area slopes up into the hole, allowing chips to be pushed into the cavity in one singular sweeping motion.
A spindle was designed to independently rotate the two conical sections of the wheel. A base plate and an axle are used to help prevent the sections from wobbling. The lower section has two bearings, one at its bottom and one at its top. This again prevents the section from wobbling. Thin washers are used to reduce the friction between the base plate, the bottom section and the top section. This allows the wheel to spin silently, removing potentially activating sounds from the gambling experience.
Fashion was explored to help visualise the collective Casineo experience. The dealer outfits reference the deactivating Casineo colour scheme and were designed with the Neo-Futurism fashion movement in mind. The outfits also incorporate the abstract numbers and have pockets to help the dealers store the conical chips.
This collection of collages aims to communicate the atmosphere of the Casineo environment. Emerging gamblers can be seen around the table, socialising and having fun. Socialising becomes the primary activity, whilst gambling becomes the secondary activity. This switch in focus allows gamblers to break out of isolated states on a frequent basis.
A man lies down on a sofa at the back of the room, taking a break. Inverted slot machines can be seen at the side of the room, helping to signify that this space is a casino, whilst simultaneously referencing the deactivating approach taken throughout the project.
This collage shows a game of roulette in progress. The motion blur on the wheel acts as a focal point of the composition. The collage aims to communicate the warm, natural and deactivating aesthetic of the casino environment.
Two emerging gamblers can be seen laughing in the foreground. A minimalistic Agnes Martin painting can be seen hanging on the back wall, deactivating the space. Casineo has been designed with responsible gambling embedded throughout its holistic experience, providing emerging gamblers with a safe and social place to gamble.
