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Is gambling a waste of money?

Key Takeaways. Gambling is not a good alternative for earning extra cash. Each game you play at a casino has a statistical probability against you winning. Slot machine odds are some of the worst, ranging from a one-in-5,000 to one-in-about-34-million chance of winning the top prize when using the maximum coin play.

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In a down economy, it’s normal to start thinking of alternative ways to generate some extra money, but if you’re tempted into thinking that gambling is one of those good alternatives, then you need to keep reading. Once you step foot into a casino and exchange your money for chips, you’ve sold away your only advantage: staying out of the casino to begin with. Casinos can bring great shows, food, and entertainment, but statistically, they won’t bring you much more than that.

Key Takeaways Gambling is not a good alternative for earning extra cash.

Each game you play at a casino has a statistical probability against you winning. Slot machine odds are some of the worst, ranging from a one-in-5,000 to one-in-about-34-million chance of winning the top prize when using the maximum coin play. In 2018, commercial casino gaming revenue amounted to about $41.7 billion; one way to think about all those profits is that they are the result of the accrual of all of the losses from casino patrons each year.

Big Business and Big Profits

To say casino gambling is a lucrative business would be an understatement. In 2020, commercial casino gaming revenue amounted to about $30 billion, a nearly 30% decline from 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic after a seven-year period of steady year-over-year growth. Still, gambling is big business. and it’s no surprise where those profits are coming from: Tens of millions of people visit Las Vegas in a typical year, with some hoping to win more money than they came in with. There are more than 450 commercial casinos in the United States, according to the American Gaming Association’s State of the States 2021 report. These casinos generated $6.7 billion in gaming taxes for state and local governments in 2018. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court gave U.S. states permission to legalize sports betting if they wish to do so. It is still fully illegal in nine states, including Texas. In seven other states, there is some form of pending legislation.

Games of No Chance

Math is the universal language, and it rarely ever lies. Each game you play at a casino has a statistical probability against you winning—every single time. While this house advantage varies for each game, it ultimately helps to ensure that over time, the casino won’t lose money to gamblers. For people who are really good at blackjack, the advantage for the casino might be only 0.5%, but certain types of slot machines might have a 35% edge over a player—and other games fall somewhere in between. The slot machine odds are often some of the worst, ranging from a one-in-5,000 to one-in-about-34-million chance of winning the top prize when using the maximum coin play. The house advantage obviously isn’t insurmountable—people do win (sometimes substantially). However, it does mean that the more you play, the more the math works against you, and the better the chances are of you walking out of the casino with less money in your wallet than when you came in. The table below compiles some of the house edges for several popular casino games.

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Why do dealers clap?

When dealers show their hands-- called 'clearing the hands'-- they motion to the camera that nothing is in their hands. The clapping from the dealer prior to this is intended to dislodge anything that might have been there.

Home Questions & Answers Why do casino card dealers clap their hands in the air before leaving the table?

Why do casino card dealers clap their hands in the air before leaving the table?

This is to show the security cameras that they have nothing, like chips or cards, in their hands. Ever hear the term, “Eye in the Sky”? Closed-circuit cameras in casinos monitor what’s happening on the gaming floor. Casino security systems oversee the integrity of game play. These cameras help protect guests, and guard against theft and cheating. They also protect the casino too. When dealers show their hands-- called ‘clearing the hands’-- they motion to the camera that nothing is in their hands. The clapping from the dealer prior to this is intended to dislodge anything that might have been there. You may see casino cashiers do this also when they are finished counting money, and it’s partially to reassure you, the customer, that they have laid down all the bills.

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