When you step into a twinkly casino with flashing lights, free drinks and glitzy tables you might think it’s the place to find your lucky charm. But the reality is, casinos are designed to slowly bleed their patrons of cash. Beneath the veneer of glitz and glamour, casinos stand on a bedrock of mathematics engineered to make the games rigged. Mathematically inclined minds have tried for years to turn the tables, using their knowledge of probability and game theory to beat the house.
Slot machines are the most popular gambling device in a casino. Whether they’re mechanical with spinning reels or replicating the spinning reels on a video screen, all slots work in essentially the same way: insert currency, decide on a bet amount, and spin the wheels. Some slot machines even allow players to control the outcome by changing the coin denomination, speed and direction of spins. These features give players the illusion of skill and a manufactured sense of happiness that can keep them playing longer.
In addition to dazzling lights and the joyous sound of slot machines, many casinos waft scented oils through their ventilation systems to create an environment of artificial bliss. This, along with the absence of clocks on the house floor (casinos want their patrons to lose track of time so they keep playing), gives gamblers a euphoric experience that keeps them coming back for more.
Gambling is a part of human culture that dates back millennia. From dice to poker to baccarat, the thrill of taking a chance has been around as long as humans have been walking the earth.