StylGame
Tables and Seating
Much of the focus on chairs in a casino environment relates to slot machines because slots generate the most revenue . But chairs have their own affinity with certain table games , notably blackjack .
Patrons still stand while playing craps and to an extent , roulette . And for good reason .
“ Mostly this is because of practical concerns . Placing bets in roulette would have players standing anyway , and shooting dice while sitting down would take much of the excitement out of craps ,” Schwartz says .
Chairs for blackjack tables need to be solid , having a firm center of gravity , while being easy to slide into position and be very comfortable , Alvarado says .
Blackjack is more of a social game , with more interactions between players that can have an effect on play , Keranen says . “ Think about when someone wins a jackpot on a slot machine ; people stop and think , ‘ Wow , that ’ s cool . Hope I win like that !’ Compare this to table games : ‘ Look , we are all winning . Keep this streak alive .’ That drives other players to want to come join , hence , more seats are needed around the table for one game ,” he says .
Blackjack players stay and play hour after hour , Corrick says . “ If they aren ’ t comfortable or experience discomfort in their legs or body , they leave . Sitting in an uncomfortable chair leaves you feeling physically exhausted ; you constantly move your legs , hips and back to make yourself more comfortable .” There ’ s that word again . Comfort . Chair design differs when it comes to table games . Ongoing development of proper ergonomics based on posture of the player is a focus , specifically with table game patrons , as they tend to sit differently than slot players , Weiss says .
“ We often see table game players leaning forward , whereas , a slot player is more likely to be leaning against the chair back ,” he says .
As designers studied table games , they found that chairs needed to add different heights to ensure the participant is at the optimum height , Corrick says . “ The result is much less fatigue to a player ’ s body or arms . Our research has also led us to create chairs with specialized lumbar support , keeping in mind that the players are leaning forward to reach the table .”
Says Weiss , “ Table games such as blackjack require a more supportive seat
46 CASINO STYLE 2019
Patir Inc .
cushion design to relieve pressure because it is a higher chair . Additionally , we also want to consider different foam densities due to the player ’ s sitting habits .”
Chairs usually have shorter backs to not obscure the view , Buck says . “ It ’ s not difficult to make a comfortable blackjack stool ; it just takes a different approach .”
The foot rest location has to be relative to the seat top and not the floor , as the height is different for everyone .
Dimensions of the seats are also smaller than those with slots , Rizzo says .
The context of chair use with table games is very different , and the importance of the seat is not as crucial as for slot machines , Iulita says . “ It is in any case a determining factor that has a great influence on the gaming experience and can prolong the time spent by the player at the table . The ongoing changes in the blackjack field , such as the digitization of gaming tables , do not change the needs of the player when it comes to seats .”
It ’ s no surprise that casino operators diversify their earning portfolio beyond gaming and into hospitality , whether meeting rooms , restaurants or bars . Chairs play a role in these arenas as well . “ They want to give customers a reason to stay longer ,” Corrick says .
For example , the convention area is notorious for horribly uncomfortable chairs , he says .
“ We asked , why was it supposedly impossible to create a chair that was both easily stackable and comfortable , and the answer is , it ’ s not ,” Corrick says . “ Our Kopa model is living proof .“
Gasser Chair ’ s blackjack chairs at Green Valley Ranch Las Vegas