Let’s start with a quiz. The term “ergonomics” refers to:
- a. A people-friendly science that makes tools, furnishings, vehicles and the like more user-friendly.
- b. A sneaky form of “human engineering” that boosts productivity by keeping laborers longer on the treadmill, grindstone or latter-day equivalent.
Ed Abadie, head designer and “chair guru” for Reno, Nevada-based seating manufacturer Gary Platt Manufacturing, says both definitions are true—up to a point.
“It used to be when you sat in a chair, all it had to do was keep you off the ground,” says Abadie, who sold commercial seating and case goods for 15 years before joining Gary Platt. “Then they realized that in order for you to stay at your desk rather than walking to the water cooler, the chair had to be more comfortable.”
And so the comfy chairs once reserved for the penthouse trickled down to the typing pool, and theoretically made all those worker bees work harder (or at least longer).
This simple equation is as important in the casino as in the cubicle. By helping to keep players at the slots or tables, ergonomically designed chairs show that top-line seating is crucial to bottom-line revenue.
Elements of Style
Subject to use 24/7/365, and accommodating customers of all sizes, weights, girths and fidget levels, casino chairs arguably must be more durable than other commercial seating. They must be adjustable and responsive, yet stable and supportive. Of course they should be comfortable—not just for a couple of minutes, but for the couple of hours it may take a gambler to dispose of his disposable income.
“When you sit in it, does it really ‘follow’ you and support you at your task?” asks Abadie. “Are your arms at the right level? Is your lumbar at the right spot when you lean forward?” If not, your body will signal that it’s time to move on.
The chair must look as great as it feels, and in the casino world that usually means a variation of the mid-century modern style that’s been ubiquitous for years. That design aesthetic, interestingly—the angular, Eames-inspired look or stripped-down Bauhaus style—often doesn’t look very comfortable at first glance.
“When people sit in an aesthetically pleasing chair,” as Abadie notes, “the last thing that they expect is comfort.”
That’s when you’d better surprise them.
Sizing up the Market
Casino chairs are mass-produced—in batches, based on client specs—but one size doesn’t fit all, says Jim Keranen, vice president of sales and marketing for Patir Casino Seating.
The company, which originated in Europe and opened its U.S. headquarters in 2016, is unusual in that it does everything from design to manufacture internally, says CEO Dennys Patir. “We work closely with interior designers and build up the chair from the ground. All our products are manufactured in-house, which allows us to completely custom-make chairs, according to your design specifications, working with all kinds of material—aluminum, steel, wood, etc.”
In appreciation of a broader clientele—no pun intended—the firm recently debuted a new line of chairs for the American market at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention in Las Vegas.
It’s a timely idea. Americans tend to be a bit more zaftig than their European and Asian counterparts. They require a roomier sit. For the new line, Patir “spent a significant amount of time testing and refining, working closely with casinos to really fine-tune the design to American player preferences,” says Keranen.
Those preferences change from sea to shining sea. “For instance, the East Coast in the United States is a little different from the West Coast,” says Keranen. “They prefer wider chairs, especially down in Florida, where the retirees are.” Traditionally, middle-aged women—the Bingo Marys so beloved of casino operators—prefer a seat made of springier foams, covered with softer fabrics.
StylGame, with offices in Italy and Las Vegas, produces chairs for casinos in 70 countries. It bases its seating dimensions on “the average values of weight and height of the people where they will be used,” says CEO Luigi Iulita. “This approach allows us to obtain outstanding results in terms of playing comfort, which directly and positively affects the revenue of the rooms.”
There are differentials beyond size. In Europe, Keranen notes, functionality is more important to operators, while in the U.S., comfort is No. 1. “Think of European beer halls. People are getting up and down more frequently, so it’s less about how much time they are in the chair. Now think of U.S. gamblers, who will sometimes be at the same slot machine for hours.”
As the most utilized furniture in a casino, chairs undergo a version of laboratory “crash testing” to ensure durability, strength and safety. Patir chairs, for example, are subject to up to 200,000 simulated hand strikes to assess how the fabrics, vinyls, leather and other coverings stand up under constant use, says Keranen. By contrast, other commercial chairs may endure less than half that, and household chairs get off easy (as few as 10,000 strikes).
StylGame’s Iulita says his company measures “resistance to stress levels that go far beyond the ones required by the standard certifications, frequently overcoming them by more than 200 percent.”
The Look of Luck
Operators have traditionally preferred simpler fabrics for chair seats and backrests, and something snazzier for chair backs (including company branding), because it’s more visible across the gaming floor. Even in the simplest, most austere chairs, fine details such as contrasting double-stitching can add a look of richness and luster.
Speaking of shifting consumer likes, some fabrics are actually considered cooler than others. Mesh backs, for instance, are more appealing to that coveted (but as yet, coyly elusive) customer, the millennial.
Mesh is desirable for several reasons, says Abadie. “It allows a lot of give in your back; you have a lumbar that’s adjustable, so you can find your most comfortable position. It also allows a lot of air circulation, for a comfortable temperature for your guests.
“I understand that the primary casino customer is a 58-year-old gal who enjoys the solitude of slot playing,” he says. “But we’re creating a chair that’s more current, and casinos are starting to catch on.”
Mesh-backed chairs are also a snap to replace in case of cigarette burns, wine spills or the other defamations that can happen in a casino; often a damaged back can be screwed off and a new one installed without a chair ever leaving the floor.
Iconic designer Charles Eames, creator with wife Ray Eames of those famous minimalist chairs of the 1950s, once said the role of a furniture craftsman is that of “a very good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guests.”
The same is true for casino operators who want their guests—the players—to spend more time and money on property.
“That’s the secret,” says Keranan. “It’s what will make my customer happier.”
