Casinos are gambling establishments that offer a variety of games of chance and skill. They can be found in huge resorts like the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip or in small card rooms in truck stops and bars. Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors and Native American tribes that own them.
Security is a major concern in casino operations, as both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal. Casinos spend a lot of money on surveillance systems that can detect blatant cheating like palming, marking and switching cards or dice. Each table game employee has a “higher-up” person watching over them, noting how much their tables are winning or losing and observing betting patterns that could indicate cheating. Casinos also use a high-tech eye-in-the-sky surveillance system that allows security personnel to watch every part of the casino floor at once, and can zoom in on particular patrons if necessary.
Slot machines are the most popular casino games, and they generate a greater percentage of casino profits than any other game. They are simple to play; a player puts in some money, pulls a lever or pushes a button and waits for the machine to return a predetermined amount of money based on a sequence of numbers generated by the computer.
Many casinos encourage players to gamble by offering free meals, drinks and entertainment, known as comps. These are offered to players who spend a large amount of time or money at the casino. During the 1970s, Las Vegas casinos made a name for themselves by giving out complimentary hotel rooms, show tickets and reduced-fare transportation to big spenders.
