Creative Ways to Make Money at a Casino

From the glitz of Las Vegas to the legal pai gow parlors in New York City, casinos attract millions of people who enjoy gambling. Casinos often feature a variety of games, including slot machines, blackjack, roulette and craps as well as non-gambling attractions such as restaurants, hotels and shopping centers. They also employ a large number of employees to keep visitors safe and entertained.

Although musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping malls help draw in the crowds, casinos would not exist without the billions of dollars that are generated by games of chance like slots, poker, blackjack and baccarat. The house always wins, however, as each game has a built-in advantage, known as the house edge. This advantage, or “vigorish,” is what gives casinos their profits.

A casino has many other ways to make money besides gambling, and some of them are quite creative. For example, some casinos use bright and often gaudy floor and wall coverings that have been designed to stimulate the senses, distract gamblers and distract them from noticing their losses. The walls are usually painted red, which has been shown to be a psychologically stimulating color. Also, many casinos do not display clocks on their walls, because it has been found that people who see clocks tend to lose track of time and become more likely to gamble recklessly.

Casinos also offer extravagant inducements to big bettors, such as free spectacular entertainment and transportation, elegant living quarters and reduced-fare hotel rooms. While some of these attractions may seem egregious, they are necessary to maintain the casino’s reputation and lure gamblers.