In this time of economic crisis, many people are looking for ways to earn extra income. Gambling may seem like an attractive option to boost cash flow, but there are a few things you should know before stepping foot in a casino. Every game at a casino has a built in advantage for the house, and over time, this edge adds up to billions of dollars in profits for casinos each year.
While musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels may attract customers to the casino, the bread and butter of the industry is games of chance. Roulette, blackjack, craps, keno and baccarat generate the majority of the billions in profits casinos pull in each year.
A few other games may be found in casinos, including pai gow (a traditional Far Eastern game that spread to European and American casinos in the 1990s), two-up and banca francesa in France, boule in Belgium and kalooki in Britain. In addition to these games, some casinos offer a variety of video poker machines.
While casinos do rake in a significant amount of money, they can also hurt local economies. Studies show that the costs of treating problem gamblers and the loss in productivity from compulsive gambling largely cancel out any revenue a casino generates for a town. In addition, a casino can lower property values in surrounding areas. It can also be a magnet for crime and corruption. In order to combat these negative impacts, a casino should implement strict security measures, such as cameras, to prevent illegal activities from taking place on the premises.