A casino is a gambling establishment that accepts bets on games of chance. In the United States, casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. Casinos generate billions of dollars each year for corporations, investors, casino owners and Native American tribes. In addition, local and state government benefit from casino revenues.
Gambling is a social activity, and casinos create an environment that encourages people to gamble and interact with each other. Casinos typically offer free drinks and snacks, and provide a variety of entertainment and services. Some casinos also provide hotel rooms and transportation for guests.
With large amounts of money being handled within a casino, patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. This is why casinos spend so much time, effort and money on security.
The basic elements of casino security include surveillance systems and employee monitoring. Casino security personnel are trained to spot patterns of behavior that could indicate a dishonest attempt to win or lose. For example, the routine way that dealers shuffle and deal cards and the expected locations of betting spots on table games follow certain patterns that make it easier for casino security to detect a suspicious behavior.
Some casinos have catwalks above the casino floor that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down through one-way glass on the activities of each table and slot machine. Depending on the size of the casino, these cameras can be adjusted to focus on specific suspect patrons.
