AGA Issues Pamphlet That Describes House Advantage, Dismisses Common Gaming Myths

As part of its continuing effort to encourage casino patrons to make informed and responsible gaming decisions, the American Gaming Association (AGA) recently released a six-page pamphlet reminding casino patrons that “games of chance are based on random outcomes and always favor the casino” and that “casino gaming should not be considered a way for you to make money.”

The pamphlet stresses that all casino games have a built-in house advantage and includes a chart outlining the common house advantage for table games and slot machines and the corresponding expected loss for the casino patron for every $100 spent on the various games.  Because of this house advantage, the pamphlet explains, “the longer or faster you play a casino game, the more you should expect to lose,” even when playing games involving an element of skill, such as blackjack or video poker.

In its final section, the pamphlet encourages casino patrons to disregard common superstitions and false beliefs, such as the misconception that players can influence the outcome of casino games.  There is no such thing, the pamphlet warns, as a hot streak, and “slot machines are not any more or less likely to hit a jackpot just because they haven’t hit in a while.”

The odds brochure satisfies a provision of the AGA Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming calling for AGA members to “make available to patrons and employees information generally explaining the probabilities of winning or losing at the various games offered by the casino.” Developed by the AGA, this publication is one tool that members can use to comply with this provision of the code. The odds brochure will be available in September in AGA member company casinos.