With music blaring and champagne glasses clinking, casinos are a place to let loose and gamble away your money for the chance to win. The atmosphere is fun and exhilarating, with people rubbing shoulders with one another while trying their luck at games like poker or roulette. Casinos offer a rush that you can’t get anywhere else.
But, while casinos look like a blast with lights flashing and the glitz of Las Vegas, they’re built on a bedrock of mathematics, engineered to slowly bleed their patrons of cash. For years, mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables, using probability and game theory to exploit flaws in a rigged system.
Security starts on the ground floor, with dealers keeping their eyes peeled for blatant cheating (like palming or marking dice). Pit bosses watch over table games with a wider view, watching for betting patterns that might indicate that players are colluding. And higher-ups monitor the entire operation via video cameras and other technology.
But all of these measures aren’t designed to protect the integrity of the games – they’re meant to ensure that the house always wins. Even a small percentage of winnings add up quickly, giving casinos a virtual assurance of gross profit and making it impossible for them to lose. With that guarantee, casinos can reward big bettors with free spectacular entertainment and transportation, elegant living quarters, and other inducements. In addition, a casino with efficient customer service can improve user satisfaction and trust.