It's the cost of entertainment. As opposed to slots, you get to interact with a live person (the dealer) who's there to keep you entertained, and you get to ha

It's the cost of entertainment. As opposed to slots, you get to interact with a live person (the dealer) who's there to keep you entertained, and you get to hang out with your friends. There's a little at stake, which keeps things interesting; blackjack and poker are pretty lame when nothing's at stake. And if you go to a low stakes table, you'll probably spend $15-20/hour for fun, and they'll comp you some free drinks too. Not much more expensive than seeing a movie.