When most people think of casinos, they think of bright lights and big money. And they are right, because casinos bring in billions of dollars a year from the gamblers that come to try their hand at games of chance. From the flashy casinos of Las Vegas and Atlantic City to tiny mountain towns with 19th century Wild West buildings, casino gambling is a staple of the American economy. But what is a casino, how do they make their money and are there any benefits to gambling?
A casino is a gambling establishment that has certain built-in advantages that ensure that it will always win. This advantage is called the house edge and it is what keeps casinos in business. It is possible for patrons to beat the house edge, but it is rare and it would require a very large bankroll. This is why casinos are so heavily staffed with security.
Casino security is usually divided between a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The security forces patrol the casino and respond to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious activity, while the specialized surveillance departments operate a sophisticated closed-circuit television system, sometimes referred to as an eye in the sky.
Something about the nature of gambling seems to encourage cheating, stealing and scamming on a grand scale. But casinos have many security measures to prevent these activities, from the smallest security personnel at slot machines to the casino floor managers and pit bosses who keep their eyes peeled for betting patterns that might indicate cheating.
