At first glance, horse racing and casino games don’t seem connected at all. One is all about the two-minute adrenaline spikes as horses race down the finish line, and the other one is all about quiet rooms but with similar adrenaline spikes.
If we look even closer, more similarities start to appear. Horse racing as a sport has been around us for thousands of years. This is, without a doubt, the oldest sport in the world that managed to stay relevant through different times. Just because of its eternal life, many industries decided to take something from the sport, including the casino industry.
I know what you’re thinking – “What can the casino industry take from an age-old sport like horse racing?” The truth is, horse racing inspired the casino industry in many ways, including some important design changes that mimic the horse racing industry.
But why? Well, the reason is simple. Horse racing has mastered tension, anticipation, and emotional payoff, and casinos want the same feeling.
So, what did they borrow from the horse racing industry? Let’s find out.
The Build-Up Is Everything
I think we can all agree that horse racing is great at one thing that casinos care deeply about – the buildup. Just think about it, horse races last only for around 2 minutes, but thousands of people show up at the races, there is an entire carnival organized before the main race, and all of that leads to one race. That’s built up in the perfect sense.
On top of that, there is anticipation before the race even starts. Odds change, horses are introduced, and big news is changing the outcome. So, you’re emotionally invested before anything actually happens.
There is total chaos before the race even starts, where handicappers are trying to pick the best odds, calculate them, and make the right decision. The odds are changing, there are different types, and all of the bettors are focused on one thing – the payout. Calculating the cost of a wager is simple, and you can learn more on the link below:
https://www.twinspires.com/wagertypes/
But the thing here is that the atmosphere lights up before the race even starts.
Casinos want the same feeling. They want to copy the rhythm of horse racing. Think about how many slots or digital games start with a slow intro, dramatic music, flashing odds, and other things to get you excited. That’s not accidental. That’s race-day psychology.
Designers in the industry found out that if people feel something before the outcome, the outcome itself hits harder.
Odds, Risk, and the Illusion of Choice
Horse racing is a very unpredictable sport, but that’s what makes it exciting. Picking a favorite feels safe, but the payout is smaller, and they only win like 30-35% of the time. On the other hand, picking a longshot feels riskier, but tempting since the payout is bigger.
Well, casinos use the same idea everywhere. Slot games, crash games, live casino wheels, and even bonus rounds often give players a choice that is very similar to horse racing betting logic.
You can either go “safer” and choose lower rewards, or chase the bigger wins but with a bigger risk in probability.
The key here isn’t math – it’s the feeling of control. As we mentioned before, betting on the favorite in horse racing feels “safer,” but data shows that they don’t win that often.
Visual Design Borrowed Straight from the Track
Now let’s talk visuals. Many casino games use imagery that feels very similar to horse races. They show progress bars that move length to the right, characters “racing” towards a finish line, or meters filling up until something big happens.
Then we have the jackpots in slots that fill up, similar to pari-mutuel bets in horse racing. In other words, they are funded by the bettors, whereas in the casino industry, a small percentage of the bet goes toward the big jackpot prize.
The Final Stretch Moment
Have you noticed how every race has a moment where everything speeds up? The crowd and the commentator get louder, jockeys are trying to push to the finish line, and the action heats up.
Well, casino games are trying to recreate this feeling. How? Well, they don’t have a start and finish to games. But they use bonus rounds, free spins, and multipliers that mimic the “final stretch” feeling of horse races.
This is the moment when players lean forward, stop talking, and focus.
Narrative Without Words
One underrated thing about horse racing is storytelling without dialogue. A horse falling behind and then surging late tells a story instantly. No explanation needed.
Casino games do the same thing. A meter filling. Symbols lining up. A near-miss. These moments create stories players replay in their heads. “I was so close.” “It almost hit.” “Next time.”
That’s pure horse-racing psychology. The story doesn’t end when the race finishes; it continues in memory.
Why They’ve Picked Horse Racing?
Well, horse racing is an age-old sport that managed to stay popular for thousands of years. This means that they are doing something properly, and the casino industry is trying to find the success “ingredient” of the story.
On top of that, horse racing is a very exciting sport with a very loyal betting fanbase, which is like music to their ears. It is a sport where adrenaline spikes influence decisions, and it is like a landslide of emotions that you cannot control.
Casinos want to copy this feeling, which is why they’ve been trying to implement horse racing strategies in the industry. What do you think, did these strategies work?
