If you’ve ever been to a casino, you know the vibe is all about having a good time. People are swaying to the beat of the music, coins are clinking and there’s an air of excitement in the air. While there may be some tutting from the sidelines when things don’t go people’s way, most are having a ball.
This is because casinos are designed to be fun. Their layouts are designed to trick the eye, with lighting that matches the outside sky and decor that makes it hard to tell whether it’s day or night. The result is that you can spend all day gambling without ever needing to leave the building to meet basic needs like eating and sleeping.
Casinos also have a number of built-in advantages to ensure that they make money, even if the average person loses. Every game has a mathematical expectancy that the house will win, and it’s rare for patrons to break even or get ahead. That’s why casinos offer big bettors extravagant inducements such as free spectacular entertainment, transportation and elegant living quarters. Casinos also offer incentives for less-addicted gamblers, too, such as discounted hotel rooms and complimentary drinks while gambling.
The etymology of the word casino goes back to Italy, where it originally denoted villas and summerhouses, or even social clubs. But, as the casino industry has grown into an international powerhouse, the word has become synonymous with games of chance, gambling and pleasure.