The modern casino is a giant, elaborate indoor amusement park for adults whose main attraction (and the billions of dollars raked in by casinos each year) comes from gambling games of chance. Musical shows, lighted fountains and themed hotels are all part of the experience, but the real money is made by playing slot machines, blackjack, roulette, poker, craps, keno and baccarat.
Casinos use a variety of strategies and security measures to make sure patrons aren’t cheating, stealing or scamming their way to the jackpot. This includes a staff of people working on the floor and a host of electronic eye-in-the-sky surveillance systems, all designed to spot any suspicious behavior. Dealers are heavily trained to notice blatant cheating, such as palming, marking or switching cards or dice. Pit bosses and table managers have a much broader view of the tables, observing patrons’ betting patterns for any unusual activity. And a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” allows security workers to monitor every corner of the casino from a separate room, zooming in on any suspicious activity or patron.
Most casino games are based on chance, though there are a few that involve some element of skill. Even games of pure luck have mathematically determined odds that give the house a constant advantage over players, known as the house edge. The casino also takes a percentage of the money gamblers bet, a fee called a rake or vig. Casinos sometimes reward frequent players with free goods or services, known as comps, such as hotel rooms, dinners and tickets to shows.