How Casinos Are Engineered to Drain Patrons of Their Money

Stepping into a casino is like stepping into another world – a glittering, noisy and pulsing one. With a host of lights, flashy decor and exotic statues, the music is upbeat and there’s a buzzing energy as people laugh around tables and test their luck at games from poker to roulette.

Gambling has been a part of human culture for millennia. Archaeologists found dice in China dating back to 2300 BC, card games appeared in Rome and the first modern casinos sprung up in the 1600s. Today, casinos make billions in profits each year from a variety of gambling games involving luck, skill and chance.

But underneath the veneer of flashing lights, free drinks and enticing promotions, casinos are actually engineered to slowly drain patrons of their money. Most games have built-in advantages designed to guarantee that the house will win. Depending on the game, this advantage is typically called the house edge or expected value.

To protect their bottom lines, casinos invest heavily in security. In addition to traditional surveillance cameras and personnel, many casinos use sophisticated technology to monitor games and spot any deviations from the norm. For instance, chip tracking systems allow casinos to monitor the exact amounts being wagered minute by minute; electronic wheel sensors are able to detect even the slightest abnormality in spinning wheels; and shuffles and betting patterns can be monitored for signs of cheating.