Beneath the glitz and glitter of flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos are built on a bedrock of mathematics designed to slowly bleed patrons’ money. From the game selection to the floor plan, every element of a casino is strategically placed to make it as difficult as possible for players to leave. Even though gamblers know that the house always wins, they can’t stop themselves from going back for more. Discover how casinos use psychology tricks and design to create an artificially euphoric experience that keeps people gambling the night away, even when they’re losing.

In a casino, table games are any category of game played on a flat surface with physical components like boards, cards, or dice as playing pieces. The most popular table games are poker, blackjack, and roulette. They usually involve strategic thinking and decision-making skills, socialisation, and interaction with one another or with a dealer who manages the game.

Most casino tables have no clocks, as casinos want players to lose track of time and keep betting. They also play a variety of music to affect how players behave; for example, softer, slower music makes people bet more cautiously, while louder, faster-tempo music leads them to make riskier decisions.

Many casinos also offer free alcohol because they know that tipsy people will lose more. Casinos have catwalks above the gaming floor, allowing surveillance personnel to look down through one-way glass on activities at the tables and slots. They also have a variety of other ways to monitor the actions of patrons, including secret cameras in rooms and on the floor.