It’s happened to all of us: You stride into the Luxor or Mohegan Sun brimming with confidence and a wallet full of cash, planning a night of enjoyable, sensible gambling and maybe a few rounds of drinks. Hours later, you don’t even know what time it is or how much money you’ve lost. The truth is, casinos are designed to lure you in and make it hard to walk away. Using sound, lights, and physical design, they make it easy to lose your money—even for people who work hard for their incomes and make reasoned financial decisions on a day-to-day basis.
Whether they’re trying to win a fortune at the blackjack table or prove that they’re the best dancer in the casino, the people you see at a casino are usually a diverse bunch. But they all share one thing: They’re having a blast. With music blaring and coins clinking, the energy is electric and you can’t help but be pulled in by the rush of it all.
While some critics have argued that casinos harm other businesses and contribute to economic problems like poverty and unemployment, others point out that they provide tax revenue for the cities in which they are located. Studies have also shown that counties with casinos experience higher employment and wages than those without, even after controlling for a variety of factors. However, these positive effects have been tempered by negative social costs for problem gamblers and their families.