A casino is a gambling establishment where customers place wagers on various events with varying degrees of chance. While casinos add a variety of luxuries such as restaurants, free drinks and stage shows to attract gamblers, they would not exist without the games of chance. Slot machines, roulette, baccarat and poker are the main games that bring in billions in profits for casino owners each year.
While many people associate a casino with a Vegas strip resort, there are hundreds of casinos throughout the United States. The most lucrative gaming destinations are located in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and the Chicago region. However, there are also Native American and European casinos that compete with the major Nevada operations.
Security is a major concern for casino patrons and staff alike. Because large amounts of money are handled within the confines of a casino, both in collusion and independently, there is a high risk of theft and fraud. Casinos rely on video surveillance to monitor game play and the behavior of patrons.
In addition to cameras, casinos rely on a host of other technologies. For example, table games are supervised by electronic systems that allow casinos to monitor betting chips minute-by-minute and warn them of any abnormalities. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviations from their expected results. Casinos also have specialized personnel to prevent cheating. Table managers and pit bosses are on the lookout for blatant signs of card and dice manipulation such as palming, marking or switching.