Casino is a special gambling establishment equipped with games of chance that offer the chance to win money. The games usually include card and dice games, roulette, slot machines and baccarat. The atmosphere of a casino is usually loud, bright and exciting, and it is common for players to shout encouragement or praise to each other. Many casinos serve alcoholic drinks, and some even offer free food.
Casinos are usually guarded by a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The security department patrols the casino and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspected or definite criminal activity, while the surveillance department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, commonly known as “the eye in the sky.” The cameras can be adjusted to focus on specific suspicious patrons at any time by casino security personnel.
Modern casinos have dramatically increased their use of technology for general surveillance and to supervise the games themselves. For example, betting chips with built-in microcircuitry interact with electronic systems to record the exact amount of each wager minute-by-minute and warn of any statistical deviation; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly for any suspicious imbalances.
Most casinos make much of their money from high-stakes gamblers, who spend tens of thousands of dollars or more on each visit. To attract these big gamblers, most casinos offer them a wide variety of perks and special treatment, such as private rooms and free luxury suites.
