How Casinos Are Engineered to Bleed Patrons of Their Cash
Beneath the flashing lights, glitzy decor and free cocktails, casinos are engineered to slowly bleed patrons of their cash. Despite the intangible element of chance, every game has mathematically determined odds that ensure the house always has an advantage.
Casinos earn billions of dollars each year from gamblers playing games like blackjack, roulette, craps and keno. Musical shows, shopping centers and lavish hotels all contribute to the profits but the majority of money is raked in through gambling. Guests can bet on sports events, horse races and even the outcome of reality TV shows.
Because of the large amounts of money involved, security is a major concern. Casinos are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance systems that allow security workers to monitor the entire floor from a control room filled with banks of security cameras. Cameras can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons and to follow betting patterns that may indicate cheating. Casinos also employ a number of people to watch over patrons and the tables. Dealers have a close eye on the cards and dice, while pit bosses and table managers have a broader view of the floor to spot blatant cheating.
Casinos also offer many forms of bonuses. Players can be offered cashback on their losses over a given period or receive a percentage of their initial deposit as bonus money. Other casino bonuses include free spins and loyalty bonuses. Some casinos may require that players wager a certain amount of money before attempting to withdraw the bonus funds. This requirement is referred to as rollover or playthrough.
Beneath the flashing lights, glitzy decor and free cocktails, casinos are engineered to slowly bleed patrons of their cash. Despite the intangible element of chance, every game has mathematically determined odds that ensure the house always has an advantage. Casinos earn billions of dollars each year from gamblers playing games like blackjack, roulette, craps and…