> but once you know that the EV is negative, there's no good (mathematical) reason to participate. Unless of course you know that the casino is willing to pay

> but once you know that the EV is negative, there's no good (mathematical) reason to participate. Unless of course you know that the casino is willing to pay you out as part of their marketing budget (based on your ev to them); usually in the form of compensated room, food, and beverage, and sometimes even transportation. At that point your choice to participate becomes vacation planning for the mathematically literate.