A casino is an establishment for gambling. Some casinos are stand-alone gambling facilities; others are combined with hotels, restaurants, non-gambling games and other entertainment venues. Larger casinos feature many different types of games, including blackjack, poker, and roulette. Some casinos are famous for their dazzling decor, while others are known for their celebrity guests and events. Casinos make money by charging patrons a fee to gamble and generating revenue from their games of chance. They also earn revenue from other sources, such as drinks, food, and hotel rooms.
Modern casinos have a wide range of security measures to protect their patrons and property. Some of these include:
Observation — Security starts on the casino floor, where casino employees keep an eye on patrons to spot cheating and other suspicious behavior. Observation is especially important in card games, where the dealer must be able to see what cards each player has in their hand.
Technology — Elaborate surveillance systems provide a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” to monitor every table, window, and doorway. Cameras are regularly adjusted by security workers to focus on certain patrons; and the video feeds are recorded so that if a crime or cheating is suspected, the casino can review footage and identify the culprit.
Casinos also offer perks to lure in gamblers and encourage them to spend more, such as free hotel rooms, buffets, and show tickets. However, studies show that problem gambling results in a net loss to the local economy by shifting spending away from other forms of entertainment.