Most people think they know what popular casinos are about, but I discovered they’re not quite what they seem. My first visit to the Las Vegas Strip was a sensory overload—neon lights, the hum of slot machines, and the faint smell of carpet cleaner. It felt like stepping into a different world, one designed to keep you there longer than you planned. What I didn’t realize at the time was how much of what I thought I knew about casinos was based on myths. The big wins, the glamorous atmosphere, the idea that anyone can strike it rich—it’s all part of the carefully crafted illusion. Over several visits to places…