Casino Revenue Structure
As always, I’m having fun playing around with Suno AI, and this time I’d like to introduce some of the songs I’ve generated. However, in relation to the songs, I’d like to briefly explain how casinos make money.
Some people may think that casino revenues must be very high, since they are likely ripping gamblers off. This guess is not wrong, and casinos’ gross profit margins are generally said to be between 40 and 50% (instead of gross profit, the EBITDA/sales ratio is used, which is the operating profit plus fixed costs (interest paid and depreciation of fixed assets), but this can roughly be thought of as gross profit margin). Games such as baccarat, poker, and blackjack require hiring dealers, so labor costs appear to account for a large portion of variable costs.
However, operating a casino requires buildings and land, which means there are significant costs involved, such as depreciation costs and interest payments associated with raising funds. As a result, the final operating profit margin is usually around 10 to 20%. In this sense, even if the house edge of a casino seems high, it seems that it is not easy to offer discounts, considering the operating costs of the casino. While it may seem like a rip-off to gamblers, from the operators’ point of view, they may be able to justify their claim by charging only enough commission to generate a decent profit that matches their investment. The casinos themselves are desperate to recover their investments, and often resort to ruthless methods to recover money from gamblers (even using methods that drive them into gambling addiction).
By the way, it seems that the games that generate the most revenue in casino sales are baccarat and slot machines. Baccarat generally has a low house edge, but it seems to be highly profitable because players can bet large amounts per game and the game has a fast turnover rate. (Incidentally, baccarat is a game entirely of luck, and does not involve any skill-based play like poker, so statistically, if you play it repeatedly, everyone will lose money and the casino will have to take a commission.) Slot machines do not require much labor, so the relatively low operating costs may have an impact on profitability. Poker (Texas Hold’em) does not appear to be a very profitable game in terms of casino sales because there is a limit to the amount of money that can be bet at the table.
The Lyrics
Based on the content of the previous section, the protagonist in this story is a casino manager (casino owner) who borrowed money to go all-in on his dream, but then plays Texas Hold’em while lamenting that it wasn’t supposed to be like this. In response to a customer’s complaint that the rake is too high, the protagonist replies that the company runs a conscientious business with an operating profit margin of 10%, and that the customer should just shut up and play. In reality, casinos are linked to government interests, so it is likely that the companies themselves are rarely completely private, so this may seem like a fantasy, but I think it would be good if people could enjoy it including that setting. So, the lyrics are as follows. This time, the English translation is not the same as the lyrics provided by ChatGPT, but I have made some changes to it. I’m gradually getting used to the English lyrics, and I’m starting to be able to tweak them myself.
🎵 Persona 🎵
[Intro]
They say in Hold’em, you wear a poker face
Hide your soul in a cold, blank space
But to me, that’s just child play
It’s not you – who can’t express your soul
[Verse]
I’m the owner here, the house, the game
Swimming in the pool of money and profits
With a smile I say, “I’m here to serve”
But one slip and I’ll lose what I don’t deserve
[Pre-Chorus]
I talk to the bank with a glassy grin
Planning repayments I can’t begin
My stomach turns, my mask stays tight
This isn’t how I pictured life
[Chorus]
Wish I could live the way I feel
Is all this pain the cost of being weak?
I went all-in on my dream, on this place
Now I wonder where I lost my grace
I only ever loved the thrill of the game
[Verse]
That demon’s back — the maniac thrives
While rake drains others, he somehow survives
He plays like the rules don’t apply to him
And I hate that I can’t hate his grin
[Pre-Chorus]
My blood burns — I can’t back down
No smile when I’m showdown-bound
This time it’s war, no looking away
Tonight, the house is here to play
[Chorus]
I envy how he lives so wild and free
But that all-in bluff? Don’t lie to me
You don’t even glance at your cards, you fool
Let me teach you how grown men duel
This battle — I will not lose
[Bridge]
Why do I keep losing? Damn, it’s my casino!
Too much rake? Cut me some slack.
Only 10% operating profit margin. Don’t be ridiculous.
You slackers just play — I’ve got mouths to feed!
[Chorus]
I play by the book, avoid every mistake
But this game’s a storm — no rules to break
Is it just bad luck, or am I to blame?
The doubt eats deeper with every game
[Final Chorus]
I’ll tear this mask and breathe again
I’ve hit it straight, the stars align
I’m all-in now — I choose my fate
This time I play as truly mine
Finished Song
The lyrics are long as usual, so it will be necessary to speed up the lyrics or make the song faster. Some of the songs I generated sounded like rap. I hardly ever listen to rap, so I wasn’t sure what kind of song would be good. So I just picked a song that sounded like a regular pop song. At first I didn’t think it was that great, but after listening to it repeatedly I started to think it was okay. I asked for the bridge to be something called “Fast Shouting” (Rapid Fire Shouting), where the lyrics are sung and shouted quickly, but I don’t think it turned out the way I wanted it to. I hope to make a cool song using this someday.
[Youtube]
[Suno AI]
Appendix
This time too, I’ve included a bonus song that was a failed attempt at making an instrumental of “All-in”. The instruments specified were piano, electric guitar, electric bass, drums, and a synthesizer, but I get the feeling that they are adamant that the piano not be in charge of the melody…Well, since the melody is completely different to begin with, you can probably enjoy it as a different song. The song feels like a slightly more stylish version of the background music you might hear playing in a supermarket, but somehow the chorus melody sticks in your head.
[Youtube]
[Suno AI]
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