The casino is one of the most fun places on earth. It offers a wide variety of games that are all based on chance. But underneath the flashing lights and free drinks, casinos are engineered to slowly drain patrons of their money. For years, mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables, using probability theory and game theory to exploit the rigged system. But the best strategy is actually pretty simple: Don’t play.
Regardless of the games they offer, casinos have a built-in advantage that can range from less than two percent to as high as seven percent, depending on the particular casino and its policies. This edge allows the casino to pay out more winning bets than it takes in losing ones. Over time, this rake provides the profits that allow casinos to build giant pyramids, towers and replicas of famous landmarks.
Casinos also employ many security measures to prevent cheating and other violations of their rules. These include elaborate surveillance systems that give security workers an “eye-in-the-sky,” allowing them to watch every table, doorway and window at once. They can even be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons. And you’ll notice that there are no clocks on the casino floor: Casinos want you to lose track of time, so you’ll keep playing longer.
But if you know the rules of the games, you can improve your odds of winning. Basic strategy is available for most casino games, and some savvy gamblers can even learn more advanced strategies, such as counting cards, that shift the house edge to about 1-2%. This isn’t illegal, but the casino doesn’t like it and may kick you out of the game if they catch you doing it.