A casino is a place where patrons can gamble on various games of chance. Often these casinos will also have other entertainment features like restaurants, bars, shopping areas and stage shows. While the aforementioned amenities help draw in guests, a casino would not exist without its gambling activities. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and other table games are what provide the billions in profits that casinos rake in every year.
Because so much money is handled within a casino, security is a big concern. Various measures are taken to ensure that neither the staff nor the patrons cheat or steal. Most casinos have cameras located throughout the facility. Some have elaborate systems that allow security personnel to watch everything in the casino at once from a room filled with banks of security monitors. Other security measures include a system of catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance to be directed down onto tables and slot machines from above.
In addition to cameras, most casinos have other ways to keep track of what is going on. For example, most table games require players to sit around a table designed specifically for that game. The table will usually have a croupier or dealer that enables the game and manages payments. These tables generally have a house edge that is built into the odds of each game.
Another way casinos keep track of what is happening in their facilities is through comps, or complimentary goods and services. Those who gamble regularly and spend significant amounts of time at the tables or on slots will be given things like free hotel rooms, free food and drinks, reduced-fare transportation and show tickets. These perks are meant to encourage people to gamble more and to reward those who do so.