A casino is a place where games of chance are played. While the modern casino may add luxuries such as restaurants, musical shows and dramatic scenery to help draw in customers, it would not exist without gambling games like slot machines, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and more. These games provide the billions of dollars in profits that casinos rake in every year. Casinos are located in massive resorts, standalone buildings and even on barges and boats floating on rivers, lakes and oceans. Some states and cities have legalized casino gambling, while others outlaw it entirely or limit its growth to racetracks, which are known as racinos.
Something about gambling (perhaps it’s the large amounts of money involved) seems to inspire people to cheat, steal and scam their way into a jackpot. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time, effort and money on security measures.
Casino security starts with the employees on the floor. Dealers have a close eye on the games and can spot blatant cheating by looking for palming, marking or switching cards or dice. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view of the tables and can notice betting patterns that indicate cheating. Elaborate surveillance systems offer a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” that allows security workers to monitor every window, doorway and table at once.
Some casinos reward players with free hotel rooms, dinners, show tickets or airline tickets if they play for long periods of time and place large bets. Ask a casino employee or someone at the information desk how to get your play rated and qualified for comps.