Casino is a place where people can gamble, often on games that involve chance or some element of skill. These games have mathematically determined odds that always give the house an edge over players, and the casino takes a percentage of the money played as a commission called a rake.
Casinos have a reputation for being glamorous, sexy, and fun, but the reality is that they’re incredibly competitive businesses. Successes are rare, and casinos tend to be able to stay in business only until someone comes along with something newer, fancier, or closer. In addition to competing with each other, casinos are also up against non-gambling resorts, on-line gaming, private gambling and an illegal casino business that is many times larger than the legal one.
How is it that otherwise rational people—people who work hard for their money and make reasoned financial decisions on a daily basis—can walk into a bright, temperate casino, wallet in hand, and throw hundreds or even thousands of dollars away based on the roll of a dice or spin of a wheel? Casinos use sound, lights, and physical design to create an environment that is at once inviting and hard to step away from. Click through the slideshow to see nine tricks casinos use to get you to spend more than you should.
