Beneath the flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos stand on a bedrock of mathematics designed to slowly drain patrons of their money. For years, mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables by leveraging their understanding of probability and game theory. But most gamblers don’t know that the best way to beat a casino is to simply avoid it altogether.
When you walk into a twinkly, noisy casino and fill up on free food and drinks, it’s tempting to roll the dice or spin the slots in hopes that lady luck will be on your side. But the reality is that gambling is a losing proposition, and casinos are designed to make as much money as possible from players.
Casino offers a revealing look at the business of casinos, including their complicated relationship with organized crime. The film’s star-studded cast includes Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, completing their collaboration that started with Raging Bull. But unlike Boogie Nights a few years later, Casino’s tone is less exuberant and more rueful, with a sensibility that’s carefully attuned to institutional systems of grift.
A casino’s success depends on a variety of factors, but one of the most important is customer loyalty. To keep customers coming back, managers must give them a reason to visit. The most common reward is a gift card, but there are also other non-monetary rewards like airline miles, free play, monthly mailers, loss rebates and more. These incentives are categorized as either promotional or comps, though the line isn’t always clear.
