How New Casinos Affect the Local Economy

Casino

When you enter a casino, you should be aware of the house advantage, or edge, and the rules that govern casino play. This advantage is the difference between the true odds and what the casino pays out. It varies with the game and is often expressed as a percentage. The higher the house advantage, the more money the casino makes off of your bet. However, you can mitigate this disadvantage by playing a casino game in moderation, rather than spending all your time trying to beat the odds.

A new casino can lead to local employment growth. The local unemployment rate can fall significantly after a casino opens, and this may be an important contributing factor. However, these figures should be compared with the statewide unemployment rate, because the casino may have spurred job growth that was not otherwise possible in the area. The employment growth may also be the result of the natural business cycle, as well as economic changes in other sectors. However, there is one thing that is certain: the casino brings tax revenue to the local economy.

Throughout the 1990s, casinos began to rely more heavily on technology to keep an eye on the games and patrons. Computers and video cameras routinely monitor the casino floor, and “chip tracking” is a practice whereby betting chips have built-in microcircuitry that enables the casino to monitor wagers minute-by-minute. Additionally, roulette wheels are routinely monitored for statistical deviations. Even the slot machines are computer controlled, which makes it much easier to monitor irregularities.