A casino, or gambling establishment, is a venue that allows patrons to place wagers on games of chance. The games of chance offered in casinos include baccarat, blackjack, poker and roulette. A large percentage of a casino’s profits come from the sale of these games and the associated betting chips. The casino industry has expanded worldwide, with many American states legalizing casinos in the latter part of the twentieth century. Many casinos are also found on Native American reservations, which are not subject to state antigambling laws.
Something about the gambling experience seems to encourage people to cheat and steal, in collusion with other players or on their own. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time and money on security measures.
In addition to armed guards, surveillance cameras and door locks, modern casinos use technology to keep tabs on everything from table game betting to video poker play. In “chip tracking,” for instance, betting chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with electronic systems in the tables to enable casinos to monitor the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and to warn dealers about any deviation from expected results; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover statistical anomalies quickly.
While a casino’s primary objective is to make money from the gambling activities of its patrons, it may also earn extra revenue through food service, drinks and other amenities. For example, many casinos have restaurants and bars that serve high-end cuisine. They also feature shows, exhibits and other forms of entertainment. Some casinos even have swimming pools.
Casinos offer a variety of inducements to attract and retain high rollers, including free or discounted hotel rooms and show tickets. They may also offer limo or airline tickets to big spenders, and comp them with meals and drinks based on their amount of play.
Because of the large amount of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. Because of this, most casinos have strict security measures to deter such activity.
Most casinos have card programs that allow players to collect points and redeem them for free or discounted meals, drinks, hotel rooms and show tickets. Some have clubs that track patrons’ play habits and tally up comps for them automatically. In addition, most casinos have automated systems that dispense cash and tickets to patrons. Some of these systems are computerized and some are operated by robots, called croupiers or dealers, who are not paid for their work. These machines have made the casino business much more profitable than it would be without them. This is especially true for the larger Las Vegas casinos, which operate a significant number of slot machines.
