Casino is a public place where games of chance are played. While a typical casino may feature restaurants, theaters, shopping centers and elaborate themes that attract patrons, it’s gambling that drives the billions of dollars in profits the industry generates each year. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and other popular casino games make up the vast majority of this revenue.
Although casinos are often perceived as glamorous and decadent, they have a dark side that can be exploited by compulsive gamblers. Studies have shown that addiction to casino gambling can cause economic losses for a community far exceeding the gaming revenues it brings in.
In order to prevent this from happening, many casinos provide a variety of security measures. Most casinos have a physical security force, as well as a specialized surveillance department that monitors the gambling floor via closed circuit television. In some cases, surveillance personnel are able to view activity from catwalks suspended above the gaming tables and slots.
The most important part of casino security starts with the employees on the floor. Dealers and other table workers keep their eyes on each game and player in order to spot blatant cheating like palming or marking cards. They also watch for betting patterns that might indicate a player is cheating at poker or other card games. All of this information is fed into the casino’s security system, and it’s possible for a high-level management team to view this data on a regular basis.
