A casino is an establishment for gambling. Whether it’s the world’s biggest, most luxurious or simply one of the best, these places are famous for glitz, glamour and games of chance. They might lure customers with a dazzling array of entertainment options, but it’s the games that bring in the billions in profits for casinos every year. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat are just some of the popular casino games that make up the bulk of the industry’s revenue.
Because so much money is handled in a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. Because of this, most casinos have a high level of security measures in place. Security cameras and personnel monitor the gaming floor to spot blatant cheating like palming, marking or switching cards and dice. Security personnel also follow the expected routines of each game, observing betting patterns and making sure that players do not leave their chips unattended.
In the past, many casinos were run by mobster families with ties to organized crime, but federal crackdowns and the risk of losing their licenses at the slightest hint of mafia involvement forced them out. Nowadays, investors and hotel companies have taken over the industry, competing to build bigger resorts that offer a more complete casino experience with more rooms, restaurants and casino games. The result is a race to be the largest in a region or even the world.
