Against the Rules with Michael Lewis Natasha Schüll on the Antisocial Lure of Gambling
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Jan 28, 2025 Natasha Schüll, an NYU associate professor and anthropologist, spent over a decade studying slot machine gamblers in Las Vegas. She reveals that many players actually loathe winning, exploring how the digital transformation of gambling has made all forms of betting feel more solitary. Schüll discusses the isolating experience of casino gaming despite promotional messages of social interaction, and how this underscores the addictive design of modern gambling technologies, including mobile apps that particularly lure younger users.
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Vegas Layover
- Natasha Schüll became interested in Las Vegas casinos during a layover on her way to college.
- This layover sparked her interest to study slot machines and the appeal of gambling.
Rise of the Slots
- Las Vegas casinos shifted from table games to slot machines as their primary revenue source.
- This shift coincided with the rise of computer and video screen technology.
Gender and Gambling
- Slot machines were initially associated with women and considered less serious forms of gambling.
- This gendered association is a cultural phenomenon, not an inherent difference in how different demographics interact with the underlying mathematical systems.
