Against the Odds
Gambling has become America's hot pastime. But today's casinos have more of an upper hand
Perhaps scariest of all, many experts and players say online gambling is more addictive than the traditional kind thanks to its fast pace and convenience factor. At real casinos, gamblers are often surrounded by friends who can stop them if they appear to be going overboard. But online gamblers are usually home alone. Sue, the paralegal, had never gambled much because it was too much of a hassle to drive an hour to the closest casino. But in 2003, she stumbled on video poker. "I couldn't stop," says Sue, who was soon playing all night and sneaking hands in during her workday. Sue has installed a game-blocking program on her computer, but she misses the excitement. "Gambling is fun," she says with a sigh.
That's exactly what casino operators like to hear and why industry executives prefer to say they are in the "gaming" or "entertainment" business. They don't like the word gambling. No wonder. Gamblers can lose.
MYTH Poker is the one game where gamblers can really win big.
REALITY At the least, average players should, over the long run, lose whatever the host takes out of the pot, from an Internet site's 2 percent to some casinos'20 percent. But as the poker boom draws in more pros, amateurs will most likely lose even more.
MYTH Single-deck blackjack games give players better odds.
REALITY It's easier to calculate the odds with one deck. But players benefit only if the payoff is the same as that of a standard six-deck blackjack--$6 for every $4 bet. Casinos are increasingly making up the lost edge by reducing the payout to $6 on a $5 bet.
MYTH The best slot machine odds in Las Vegas are found on its famous strip.
REALITY Nope. Somebody's got to pay for all those light shows, fancy fountains, and erupting volcanoes. The best odds are found in humbler casinos that in-the-know locals frequent, such as those just a few blocks off the strip or in nearby suburbs.
MYTH Casinos lace their air with chemicals that put you in a betting mood.
REALITY Casino executives scoff and say their ventilation systems just filter cigarette smoke. But a Chicago neurologist says he sells some casinos (which he wouldn't identify) a "pleasant odor" that his studies show boosts slot betting.
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