The house always wins in a casino. This isn’t a charity; the casino has a business model that ensures its profitability. The house edge, or average gross profit from every game, is designed to maximize their profits. The longer you play, the higher your odds of losing money. A good rule of thumb is to play only for as long as you can afford to lose. A high roller who loses money more often than not will eventually be left with a negative balance.

A study by Roper Reports GfK NOP found that a quarter of Americans had visited a casino in the past year. These statistics were based on face-to-face interviews of 2,000 American adults. Another survey conducted by the U.S. Gaming Panel questioned 100,000 adults and 57205 responded. The results showed that the average casino gambler was 46-year-old female, from an income higher than the national average. Another survey showed that the average gambler was over 45 and a mother of two. These numbers aren’t surprising when one considers that parents often have more vacation time and extra spending money to spend.

The casino’s surveillance system is quite elaborate. Security personnel have cameras in every window and doorway. They can be adjusted to keep track of suspicious patrons. Video feeds are recorded for review later. Computer chips installed in slots and video surveillance ensure that the casino is as secure as possible. Despite all these precautions, there’s no one on the casino’s floor to check for cheating. However, casino security isn’t perfect.