A casino is a public place where a variety of games of chance can be played. Although many casinos offer food, drinks and stage shows, gambling is the primary activity. While the modern casino may look like an indoor amusement park for adults, it wouldn’t exist without the games of chance that provide its billions of dollars in annual profits. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno are just a few of the games that attract visitors to casino floors.
While casino games of chance are a form of entertainment, they can also be dangerous to players and the surrounding community. Studies indicate that gambling addictions shift spending away from other forms of entertainment and cause an overall decline in local economic activity. The cost of treating gambling addicts and the lost productivity caused by their absence essentially cancel out any monetary benefits casinos bring to a community.
In order to protect their profits, casino owners invest heavily in security. Cameras monitor the games of chance and a multitude of security personnel keep watch over the casino floor. Some security measures are as simple as ensuring that dealers can’t cheat by palming or marking cards or dice, while others involve specialized technology. For example, chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with electronic systems that enable casino officials to oversee the amounts wagered minute by minute and quickly detect any statistical deviations. In addition to casino security, most online casinos are regulated by recognized international gaming commissions and auditing institutions (such as eCogra).