From the opulent Bellagio fountains of Las Vegas to the illegal pai gow parlors of New York, casino gambling is one of America’s most popular pastimes. According to a 2002 survey by the American Gaming Association, 51 million people–a quarter of all Americans over 21–visited a casino. Unlike lotteries or the Internet, where gamblers are isolated from others, casinos have a social component to them that draws in players. Musical shows, shopping centers, restaurants and hotel rooms are all designed to draw people into the gambling halls where they can try their luck at games of chance. While these amenities add to the fun, casinos would not exist without the billions in profits raked in by games like blackjack, roulette, craps, poker and slot machines.
Most casino visitors are unaware that the odds of winning in any particular game are stacked in favor of the house. The more a gambler plays, the more likely they are to lose everything. This is why casinos are filled with bright lights, loud noises and gaudy color schemes to distract gamblers from their losses. Another psychological trick is to use chips instead of cash; this makes it harder for gamblers to track their losses and to spend more money than they intend to. Casinos also have elaborate surveillance systems with cameras that can zoom in on specific patrons or monitor the entire floor from a room filled with banks of security screens.
The casino business is booming and gambling is a major industry in many countries. It’s not surprising that many people want to try their hand at the casino, but not everyone can win. The average casino loses more money than it wins. Some people win a little bit, but more often than not, the house ends up with all the money.
There are some ways to increase your chances of walking away with a winning streak, but it is always in your best financial interest to quit while you’re ahead. Many gamblers have a hard time doing this because they get addicted to the thrill of the game. In addition, many of these gamblers have high-income jobs and live in areas where there are no other gambling options.
To encourage big gamblers to continue playing, casinos offer them comps, or free services, like hotel rooms, meals, drinks and even airline tickets. Comps are calculated based on the amount of money a player bets and the length of time they play. Some casinos go so far as to fly in high rollers on private jets! However, European casino owners are not allowed to directly entice customers in this way. Instead they focus on the customer service aspects of their gambling operations. For example, the Bellagio in Las Vegas features Hermes and Chanel boutiques, a branch of New York’s Le Cirque restaurant, and top-notch hotels and spas. They are hoping that these amenities will entice people to gamble and make the casinos more profitable.