Below we’ll take a look at 10 pieces of information that Casinos don’t want you to know about or share in any way. They don’t want to be losing you as a customer and don’t want you to know that the odds always seem to be in their favour in a variety of ways.
1. The house edge is even higher with some games
You already know the odds are stacked against you, but there are actually some games that are going to be able to pay out just a bit better than other games. Card games such as poker or blackjack give the house around a 3% chance of getting ahead. This also includes bingo. If you want to go lower, video poker has around half a percent edge. The ones that lean towards the house odds the best are the slot machines at a 10% edge.
2. You CAN count cards
Contrary to Hollywood making it sound like a high-stakes, elaborate and illegal setup, counting cards is completely fine. You should be ready if the math behind card counting is done in your head without any assisted device. Casinos still frown upon it, and if they catch you will still try to get you to stop. The amount of math that’s also required to be done, especially with multiple decks at play, doesn’t make it any easier.
3. High rollers equal privacy
Specifically, we’re talking about the private rooms that are typically reserved for the high rollers. These are where you can comfortably play poker with other like-minded gamblers without being worried about any cameras watching your every move. In fact, in these rooms, security tends to be much laxer overall, but do keep in mind how much is required in most cases to be considered a high roller.
4. Keno is not a winner
It may seem like playing the lottery with better odds (since more numbers are chosen than in a regular lottery, around 20). With a range of numbers from one to 80, it seems too good to pass up, right? Well, remember, for the 20 numbers it does pick, there’s a huge stack of numbers it doesn’t, actually giving the Casino one of the best house edges out there at up to 50%.
5. Dealers are Fallible
You can look at one of the greats in the casino world, Bill Zender, who consistently found dealers that weren’t as pristine as they should be. Their only fault was human error, so they’re prone to eventually make mistakes.
Mr. Zender even mentioned that some dealers would do a lazy shuffle and accidentally flash cards that were meant to come out face-down. So if you pay attention to one of these dealers, you are actually giving yourself up to a 9% chance ahead of the house.
6. You’re being manipulated as soon as you walk in
Casinos are expertly designed to get you to come in and start gambling your money away. Sometimes you may walk in with a certain amount you’re willing to wager or a certain amount of time you will play, only to find yourself ignoring both statements every time. The layout and design of the casinos, as well as the décor, are all there to put you in a gambling state of mind.
This can also come during gameplay when you get those extra attentive servers who aren’t too hard to look at, as well as plenty of comps to keep you well-fed or even rested so you keep playing. Plus, the whole casino is always littered with exciting and fresh deals for you to take advantage of with your winnings.
7. They will see you
Security in casinos is extensive and for good reason. Yet sometimes it may feel insane, with some casinos having tens of thousands of cameras in them! Plus, there’s a team always reviewing these camera feeds live to ensure that there’s no scent of misappropriation or someone trying to take advantage of the casino.
Now, of course, this works in your favour as well as a patron, where you are completely safe, even with all your hefty winnings. Yet do keep in mind on the other side, they will see everything even if you aren’t gambling.
8. If you’re new – go to where the action is
Make sure to know how to play the games first and understand the casino rules. After that, you want to find the busiest table to sit at. After that, you won’t be playing as fast (which also means not betting as quickly), meaning you can take a more cautious approach. At the same time, you can learn skills from other players, who tend to be open and friendly at a casino table.
You don’t need to go all high roller, so keep your bets at whatever is your comfort level.
9. Playing with Newbies can be rewarding
If you find yourself already seasoned, don’t always sit with the other seasoned players or regulars. Instead, you want to sit with some newbies yourselves because even if they’re learning, they’re still probably making mistakes themselves.
Whether they play too many hands at once or take high cards on the hit in Blackjack by accident, it all helps to give you that slight edge over them and strike better odds against the casino itself. Playing with other veterans doesn’t help level the playing field, as they’ll be much more experienced players than you.
10. Suicide is still a big issue in Vegas
Even with all the glitz and glamour, there’s still a major issue when it comes to suicide. It rarely gets out into the press because of the bad image it may give to the industry, but from a statistical standpoint, suicide is a major issue. To be fair, it may not be directly related to gambling or going to a casino, as it may just be an opportune place where one can commit suicide in anonymity.
Regardless it’s always important that if you do find yourself struggling with gambling and may be addicted, there are numerous free services out there to help you in getting you back on your feet.
