Beneath the veneer of flashing lights and free drinks, casinos are rigged to slowly drain their patrons of cash. Mathematically inclined minds have tried to turn the tables with their mastery of probability and game theory, but the best way to beat the odds at a casino is simply not to play.

In a casino, it’s all about the dopamine rush, so it’s easy to get carried away after a win. However, if you keep playing to try and capitalize on your winnings, the odds are high that you will lose more money than you won. In fact, it’s common for people to end up bankrupt after a trip to the casino.

Gambling is any act that involves risking something of value, whether it’s money, an item of sentimental value or even one’s life. This includes anything from betting on sports to placing an informal bet among friends. However, the term casino is generally used to refer to gambling establishments where people can take part in games of chance, such as slot machines or table games.

The word casino is derived from the Italian word for “small country house.” The OED lists four meanings for casino, including “a large room for music and dancing,” but it was in the 1700s that the phrase started to acquire its current connotation. It was around this time that the first American casinos began appearing on American Indian reservations, which were not subject to state antigambling laws.