Are Casinos Bad
Gambling has been part of the leisure culture in many countries for many years, but there are still many debates about whether a particular gambling venue is a bad casino in the USA or not. However, many people are sure this statement relates to all casinos and online gambling venues in the country, but there are also many people that focus on positive aspects. This article details the gambling industry, its advantages, disadvantages, and influence on different life aspects.
Gambling Meaning for Society
For every $1 of gambling income, the state needs to spend $3 on additional social services; therefore, in states with casinos, residents pay higher taxes. Gambling also generates economic and social costs.
Families
If you do not adhere to responsible gaming principles, gambling is addictive, and this affects not only you but also your relatives, close people, friends, and so on. Your uncontrolled desire to play slot machines and other casino games complicates your relationships with family members, friends, co-workers, and so on. If people know you are a gambling addict, you will unlikely be able to borrow money and will not be trusted. Moreover, many people do not take gambling addiction seriously, so they will not seek to help such a person, leaving them alone with their demons, which may lead to terrible consequences.
Crimes
Those who criticize gambling often state that this sphere provokes illegal actions, robbery, and social embitterment. Addicted people are likely to have bad habits and to distribute money unwisely.
Of course, casinos develop states’ economies and create jobs, but they also increase crime.
Remember that gambling venues are always in the black because of the house edge, so there are many people that lose their money, and some of them may do illegal actions to minimize their costs and make a profit anyway.
Business
Gambling facilities increase state tax revenues and create new jobs, but they often interfere with other businesses. In fact, casino games may affect employees’ productivity even though there are no casinos around; a great example is when some companies create card game facilities for employees in offices to relax during their breaks.
At first, this entertainment seems harmless, but after a while, there may be conflicts in the team, leading to a decrease in productivity, dissatisfaction among employees, and even the risk of theft.
Gambling & Economics and Tourism Impact
Opinions differ on this point; let us consider two points of view.
| Economics Pros | Economics Cons |
|---|---|
| People who claim gambling should be legalized speak of its positive effect on the economy. Gambling venues’ regulation allows states to limit their income and forces casinos to act on fair terms; you also have to pay tax from each win, providing additional state income. It also positively affects tourism and the number of jobs; such developed regions as Las Vegas, Macau, and Atlantic City confirm this statement. | When asked why casinos are bad, gambling opponents argue that addicts borrow money, which they then spend again on slot machines. To their mind, because of this, the population’s purchasing power decreases. Another reason was recently described by Christopher Palmeri in his article for Bloomberg; this is the trend of the gambling industry’s oversaturation. Some casinos cannot handle the competition and are closing, leaving people out of work. |
The economy is growing thanks to gambling: high taxes and tourists are the primary reasons for it. Nowadays, modern offline gambling venues do their best to attract customers; top casinos organize concerts, hold shows, and open restaurants, stores, nightclubs, bars, and so on. These are not just casinos; these are resorts where people have a lot of opportunities.
Law Restrictions for Casinos
Gambling laws differ from state to state; one of the first US states to legalize online gambling was Delaware in 2012 and New Jersey in 2013. After that, other states began to actively allow gambling as well; here are some of them.
| State | Year of Online Casinos Legalization |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 2017 |
| West Virginia | 2019 |
| Michigan | 2021 |
| Connecticut | 2021 |
In recent years, there has been a gambling boom in the United States. Many states with complete gambling bans or where only one category was available have begun offering casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and so on.
A dozen years ago, gambling was banned in almost every state except New Jersey and Delaware, and not long ago, online slot machines began to be allowed. Although even now, nearly every state has at least one gambling category that remains prohibited.
What used to be illegal at the federal level is currently regulated by states individually, but an essential condition is that gambling companies must obtain licenses in jurisdictions where they want to conduct gambling activities.
Avoid Games of No Chances at Casinos
Every card and table game offers a specific winning probability; it also considers the house edge that guarantees casinos a net profit in the long run. This does not mean casinos are bad because they are not charity organizations; their first and fundamental goal is to earn money. So if you do not have any preferences, choose a game with the lowest house edge.
For example, if you know blackjack, this is the best casino game with the lowest house edge, only around 0.5%, and once you learn the basic strategy, you will know how to behave with different cards in your hand. However, the exact house edge also depends on what you bet; let’s list the most unprofitable games with low RTP.
| Game | Bet | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Baccarat | Tie | 14.36% |
| Big Six Wheel | From $1 to Joker | 11.11-24.07% |
| Casino War | Tie | 18.65% |
| Craps | Hard 4 or 10 | 11.11% |
| 2, 12, and hard ways | 13.89% | |
| Any 7 | 16.67% | |
| Keno | – | 25-29% |
| Sic bo | Triple | 33.33% |
| Three-card poker | Pair Plus Bonus | 7.28% |
| Slot machines | – | 3-12% |
As you can see, in card and table games, the house edge depends not only on the rules but also on what you bet on, while in slot machines, only RTP affects odds.
Remember that slot RTP works only in the long run; if a particular provider states the RTP is 95%, it does not mean that you will definitely receive $95 out of the $100 invested.
RTP is relevant for millions of spins; one day, a slot can give 50% of bets, and the next day, it will provide 100% of the invested money; results are completely random.
It is also not a good idea to play American roulette or choose inside bets in any of its versions. Although inside bets provide high odds, the probability of a winning result is very low because they cover only 1-6 numbers out of the available 37.
How to Win at Gambling Venues
There are no specific tips and strategies that guarantee you a win because a lot depends on luck; the most important thing is to avoid any bad casino and to play only at legitimate gambling sites that do not cheat customers and pay winnings promptly. You should understand how gambling venues work and what is the secret of experienced players’ success.
How Casinos Make Money
The main goal of any gambling venue is to make money on customers, so the rules of any game ensure that a casino is always in the black; there are two key factors:
- House edge. This is a mathematical casino advantage: in slots, it ranges from 3 to 12%, while in blackjack, this figure is only 0.5%.
- RTP. This is the average percentage of returns to all players; in slot machines, it usually varies from 94 to 97%, and in blackjack, it reaches 99.5%.
As for roulette, it offers equal odds bets, but you do not get a 50/50 chance because of zero; in American roulette, there is also a double zero, which increases the house edge.
In some games, casinos also withhold commissions; for example, in baccarat, if you bet on the banker’s win and success, a gambling venue takes 5% of your winnings.
In blackjack, if you purchase insurance but the dealer does not score 21 points, the insurance amount goes to a casino.
As for bonuses, there are several nuances, too. Casino rewards focus on customers, but at the same time, they are no less profitable for gambling venues because bonus programs allow them to attract a lot of new gamblers. Keep in mind that even if you win money after using bonuses, you have to meet wagering requirements before you can withdraw the gifted funds. Therefore, it is necessary to invest your money and, in most cases, lose it in casino games.
How Top Players Win
Experienced gambling fans know many secrets of how to increase your chances of winning. First, it is necessary to avoid any bad casino and play only at legitimate venues; we also recommend adhering to the following guidelines to make successful bets more often:
- Practice in demo mode before playing for real money to master all rules and game aspects without risking your bankroll.
- If you are willing to visit a land-based casino, do it in the afternoon. There are no clocks and windows, and the tables and games are arranged so you can spend a lot of time there thinking you are gambling only for a couple of hours. There is no fuss in the afternoon, and dealers can pay you more attention, so this experience will be helpful.
- Do not drink alcohol and drink more water. Casinos often offer free drinks to affect customers’ behavior; they lose concentration and make more ill-considered bets.
- Put on your watch. As you watch the time, you’ll know when to leave a venue; remember that the longer you sit at the gaming table, the greater your risk of losing.
- Withdraw your winnings at once. If you are lucky to hit a large prize, do not try to multiply it; cash out the money and leave a venue.
- Choose card games because, in them, your chances of winning depend more on skill and the ability to make wise decisions. Slots and Wheel of Fortune are great for spending leisure time, but their results depend only on RNG.
- Choose gambling venues with a lot of tourists; most of them visit casinos to relax and have fun, and there are few professionals or regular players. These customers do not focus on gameplay properly, so if you face such opponents, for example, at a Texas Hold’em table, you will have better winning chances.
- Find an inexperienced dealer. It is not easy, but it is noticeable if the croupier is new to the casino. They may be a little careless, so you can peek at their cards and increase your chances.
- If you play baccarat, bet on the Banker; there is a little more than a 50% chance of this outcome.
There is also a valuable tip for roulette lovers: play only the European or French versions.
Unlike the American variant, there is only one zero, which reduces the casino house edge from 5.25 to 2.7%.
Also, in French roulette, there is a La Partage rule: if you bet on equal chances and the ball hits zero, you get half of your bet back, which provides you with an additional advantage.
Money Management
Whatever strategies you learn to use, you cannot always win, even if you do not play in a bad casino but on a licensed gambling site. To keep your bankroll for a long time, you need to manage your money wisely; here are a few recommendations:
- Set a separate amount for gambling costs; do not use money from your family budget aimed for groceries, utilities, and other general expenses.
- Set card withdrawal limits; contact your bank manager to do it.
- Do not chase losses; often, inexperienced players try to win back after significant losses and drain their bankrolls completely.
- Take breaks. This is especially important after a series of failures when it is worth having rest.
- Do not play with high stakes. Bet up to 5% of the total amount on each gaming round, so you can play for a long time and gain valuable experience.
Casino Gambling as Earning
If you consider gambling only as a way to earn money, then you will likely fail to do this. For sure, if you are a Texas Hold’em professional gambler and participate in various tournaments, you can get a good profit. As for games, when you play against live dealers, you should keep in mind that the house always wins in the long run, so only treat gambling as a type of entertainment. In this case, making a profit is a nice bonus but not a goal.
Advantages of Gambling
Despite the negative aspects of casinos, playing competently and responsibly will not harm you. Thanks to online gambling development and the rapid emergence of gambling sites on the Internet, slots and other software are becoming more and more accessible to many customers. The regulation of the gambling business by the legislation and control by the authorized commissions increases loyalty level, so nowadays, more and more people trust gambling sites.
It Is Fun & Easy to Start Playing
To start making bets, you do not have to spend your money; most modern websites offer a demo mode where you play with virtual coins to get acquainted with slot machine rules and mechanics.
On many gambling sites, you do not even need to register to spin reels for free.
Moreover, slot games do not require special knowledge or skills: study paytable, learn offered symbols, and start spinning reels.
Game Diversity
In today’s gambling industry, thousands of games are available, and slots are the broadest category because they have the most significant demand among casino customers.
You need more skill in card games like poker, blackjack, baccarat, sic bo, craps, and others. In lottery games like keno, bingo, Wheel of Fortune, and arcade games, you cannot influence outcomes, as it all depends on a random number generator, just like in slots.
Why Casinos Are Bad
Of course, the gambling industry has its disadvantages, but remember that by following the principles of responsible gambling, you minimize or completely negate all gambling risks.
A Lot of Grey & Bad Casinos
When choosing a gambling site, be careful and avoid bad casinos for US players. There are many phishing sites on the Internet created by scammers that use scripting software, which is very different from licensed casino games. Your personal data is not protected and may be available to third parties, and even if you manage to win, a casino will very likely find a reason to refuse to pay the money.
You cannot require your money; these casinos do not have licenses, and no regulators control their work.
Odds in Casino Favor
Casinos always have the house edge, and thanks to this, they exist; this is not a secret, and when you play casino games, you accept this rule. In the long run, any gambling venue will receive more money than its customers. If you play for a long time and finally hit the jackpot, you can notice that you spent more than you earned in total: just calculate all wins and losses.
High Risks & Money Losing
Gambling always involves risk, and it is essential to understand and accept that; that’s why we like it; without it, there would be no excitement. Remember that slot machines are designed so that losing streaks can be really long; that’s why it is crucial to set limits on the maximum bets and losses so as not to lose a lot of money.
Casino Addiction & Mental Health
An irresponsible attitude toward gambling leads to addiction development; this is a serious disorder when you are unable to control your desire to make bets and are ready to spend any money to continue playing. Compulsive gambling negatively affects mental health and provokes mood swings, restless states, aggression, and depression.
Self-Control Necessity
To avoid the problems listed above, you should be able to stop in time; you make things only worse by chasing your losses and trying to win back. Fix how much time you spend on slot machines and use only a tiny percentage of your bankroll to make bets; this will help you to prevent gambling addiction.
