Natasha Dow Schüll

Natasha Dow Schüll

Natasha Dow Schüll is a cultural anthropologist and an associate professor in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University. Her research examines how technology affects people’s emotions and behavior, especially in areas such as addiction, anxiety, and ways of controlling mood.

Her 2012 book, Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas, examines the close connection between gambling addiction and the way casinos are designed. It explains how casinos use space, sound, lighting, machines, and algorithms to capture gamblers’ attention and keep them playing, turning their focus into profit.

Dow’s other book Keeping Track (under contract with Farrar, Straus & Giroux) studies how new sensor-based digital tools are changing self-monitoring, self-care, and personal control in modern life.

Natasha Dow Schüll also created the documentary film Buffet: All You Can Eat Las Vegas, which has been shown on PBS and at many film festivals.

Addiction by Design is a profound and eye-opening look at how modern casinos create and shape gambling addiction. Written by anthropologist Natasha Dow Schüll, the book examines how slot machines and other digital gambling devices have supplanted traditional table games as the primary focus of casinos.

Based on fifteen years of research in Las Vegas, the book explains how machine gambling draws players into a state that gamblers themselves call the “machine zone.” In this state, people forget about daily problems, time, and even their bodies. The goal for many players is no longer winning money but simply continuing to play, even when it leads to exhaustion or financial ruin.

Schüll shows how every detail of casino design encourages this behavior. She writes about how machines are built, how game algorithms are programmed, how casino layouts and lighting are arranged, and how tracking systems and easy cash access are used to keep players at the machines for as long as possible.

Addiction by Design also looks at gamblers’ lives beyond the casino floor. It includes stories from gambling conventions, Gamblers Anonymous meetings, and debates about whether addiction comes from the people themselves, from the machines, or from the potent mix of both.

This is a fascinating study of the interaction between technology and human behavior. It reveals how the gambling industry profits from keeping people in a cycle of play and shows how this relationship raises bigger questions about control, desire, and modern life.

Related Authors

Fans of Natasha Dow Schüll also enjoy these authors:

1. Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
2. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
3. Charles Dickens, author of: A Christmas Carol.
4. Dennis Lehane, author of: Shutter Island.
5. Val McDermid, author of the Inspector Karen Pirie Series.

Natasha Dow Schüll: F.A.Q