The Casino Business Model
Casino, a gambling establishment that features games of chance or skill, rakes in billions of dollars every year for the corporations, investors and Native American tribes that own and operate them. In addition, casinos provide jobs and generate tax revenues for local governments. They also attract tourists who spend money on hotels, restaurants and other entertainment. But despite the flashy lights, dazzling musical shows and elaborate themes, the vast majority of a casino’s profits come from the games of chance played there.
Casinos are located in a variety of settings, from large resorts to small card rooms. In the United States, they are often found in cities that have legalized gambling, such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Reno. They are also often located on cruise ships, in Indian reservations and on land that has been leased from the federal government for use as a Native American tribal gaming site. In addition, casino-type game machines are sometimes located at racetracks, in bars and in grocery stores.
In the past, most casinos were run by private individuals or groups. As the popularity of gambling grew, more and more people opened casinos. Some were large, sprawling establishments called “palaces” or “hotel-casinos.” Others were smaller clubs known as ridotti, named for the Italian aristocrats who used them for private parties during the Renaissance.
Regardless of size or location, all casinos have the same basic business model: They offer a wide range of games that have mathematically determined odds. These odds ensure that the house has a profit margin over all players. In some cases, such as in the games of poker and blackjack where players compete against each other, this profit margin is expressed as a percentage. It is referred to as the house edge. In other cases, such as in roulette and craps where the house takes bets at varying amounts, the profit margin is expressed as a fraction of one percent.
Because of this virtual assurance of gross profit, a casino rarely loses money on any game. To increase profits, it must attract large numbers of patrons. This is why casinos frequently offer big bettors extravagant inducements such as free spectacular entertainment, luxury transportation and elegant living quarters. Even lesser bettors are offered reduced-fare transportation, room rates and free drinks and cigarettes while gambling.
Gambling is a difficult business, and there are many people who try to cheat or steal to gain an advantage over other players. As a result, casinos devote a great deal of time and money to security measures. Some of these are visible, such as cameras in the gaming area. Other security measures are less obvious. For example, a casino may have a dedicated staff that tracks high-stakes gamblers and rewards them with comps that can amount to thousands of dollars. Some critics argue that the damage caused by gambling addictions more than offsets any economic benefits casinos provide to a community. These critics point to studies showing that gambling-related problems divert spending away from other forms of local entertainment and that the costs of treating problem gamblers offset any profits casinos make.