To ensure that gamblers are rewarded for their loyalty and spend more money, casinos focus on customer service. As a result, they offer perks to players to motivate them to spend more money. The term “comps” stands for complimentary items, and in the 1970s Las Vegas casinos offered cheap buffets and free tickets to shows. These perks were part of a strategy to increase the volume of people visiting the city. Increasing the volume meant increasing gambling revenue, which meant filling up the casino floor and hotel rooms.

To prevent gambling-related theft, casinos use sophisticated surveillance systems. Cameras in the ceiling of a casino monitor each table, window, and doorway. When the cameras detect an individual trying to cheat, they can adjust their focus to avoid being seen. The video feeds are recorded and analyzed later. As an added security measure, casinos do not display clocks in their gambling establishments, which would be an extreme fire risk. In addition, slot machine payouts are determined by computer chips installed inside the machines. While no one is watching the slot floor, there are people on the lookout for cheaters and other fraudulent activities.

While the casino industry dates back to the Renaissance, its origins are much older. The first casinos were small clubhouses for the wealthy. The casino concept spread throughout Europe, and many of the modern casino games originated in France. It is believed that the concept of a casino originated in Italy, which had previously been a small clubhouse for the rich. But as gambling became more popular in France, the casino industry eventually became more widespread, with the closure of large public gambling houses pushed to smaller venues.