A casino is a special establishment where customers gamble by playing games of chance, in some cases with an element of skill, and win money or prizes. The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults, with a variety of entertainment and food to keep visitors entertained, but the majority of the profits come from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and baccarat make up the bulk of the billions of dollars in profit raked in every year by casinos.
There are many different types of casinos, and they have all kinds of themes, designs, and amenities to appeal to a wide range of interests. Some casinos even have hotels, restaurants, non-gambling game rooms, swimming pools and spas to make them more attractive to families.
Most casinos use a combination of physical security and specialized surveillance departments to prevent crime and theft. The physical security forces patrol the casino floor and respond to calls for assistance or reports of definite or suspected criminal activity. The specialized surveillance department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, commonly known as the “eye in the sky.” The systems are designed to monitor every table, window and doorway and can be adjusted to focus on specific patrons by security workers stationed in a room filled with banks of security monitors.
Casinos can be dangerous places, as both patrons and staff are tempted to cheat or steal. This is especially true when large amounts of money are involved, as in the case of a slot machine jackpot.
