The public has long been fascinated with casinos, especially since the Rat Pack made the classic movie Ocean’s 11. This escapist tale was remade in 2001 with George Clooney and led to a series of sequels. A casino can be described as an oasis of glitz and glamour, with thousands of tables and one-armed bandits, five-star food, and glittering lights. Millions of dollars are exchanged daily at the gaming tables, and it is no wonder that so many people are lured to casinos.

The proliferation of casinos all over the world has increased the number of people who are interested in the gaming experience. The savvy gamblers are increasingly seeking higher returns on bets. This trend may force game designers to revisit their game mechanics to meet the needs of this new audience. However, it is not all bad news for casinos. Some experts have expressed concern about the negative effects of gambling. Here are some of the ways that casinos affect communities.

The casinos have a built-in statistical advantage. A casino’s edge is very small – as low as two percent – due to the millions of bets each year. This edge is called the “vig” or rake, and varies between casinos. However, it is often lower than two percent because of the higher turnover of high rollers. Therefore, casinos extend comps to attract high rollers. Often, comps include free hotel stays, meals, and drinks, free casino chips, and even flights on private jets.