Casinos

Fun Facts About Casinos

• Ever notice casinos have no clocks or windows? That's so players don't notice time passing. This encourages longer stays.
• Slot machines were invented in 1895 and by 1902 they were officially banned in most American states. To circumvent anti-gambling laws, slot machines were re-branded as vending machines and paid out fruit-flavored gum or candy instead. This era birthed the iconic fruit symbols in slots.
• The house edge is a built-in advantage for casinos. The longer a player gambles, the more likely that player leaves the casino a loser, mathematically speaking.
• Blackjack is one of the few games where skilled players can significantly reduce the house advantage. The average player faces a house edge of 1.5% to 2%, but with a mathematically-proven strategy, a player can lower this to approximately 0.5%.
• Many casino chips contain tiny radio-frequency tags so casinos can track bets and prevent counterfeiting.
• Dice in craps are replaced frequently, often every 8 to 16 hours, to prevent wear or tampering.
  
• Card decks from table games are regularly destroyed or sold as souvenirs to prevent reuse. Vintage decks from iconic, defunct Las Vegas casinos like Stardust or The Sands can command high prices (up to $400).
• Casino carpets are designed with chaotic, high-contrast patterns primarily to hide stains. But it also discourages patrons from looking down and finding a way to the exit, focusing their attention on the games instead.