Beneath the veneer of flashing lights, opulent décor, and free cocktails, casinos are engineered to slowly bleed their patrons of money. They are rigged to give the house an edge, and for years mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables by using their knowledge of probability theory to expose flaws in the system.
In fact, even the very act of gambling has a psychological effect. It changes your relationship with money, requiring you to place value on something that has no intrinsic worth. It also makes you less likely to be a productive member of society, especially in a down economy.
Gambling has been a part of human life for millennia. Evidence of dice betting exists from 2300 BC, and card games became popular in the 1400s. In modern times, casinos have become a major industry in many countries and are highly lucrative.
One of the reasons for this profitability is the use of technology to control and monitor gaming. Computer systems record the amount of money wagered minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly for statistical deviations. Casinos are also able to offer special inducements to big bettors. This may include free spectacular entertainment, transportation, elegant living quarters, and other perks.
Many communities use the promise of increased employment by a casino as an argument for building it. The idea is that because casinos require labor, the workers will come from the local area. But this does not always happen. Usually, casinos hire skilled people from outside the local community. This leaves the unemployment rate in the local community unchanged, and it may even increase because some of the original, less-skilled population lose their jobs.