Security at a Casino

A Casino is a gambling establishment where games of chance are played. While elaborate hotels, restaurants, stage shows and lighted fountains help attract customers, the majority of the billions in profits raked in by casinos each year comes from gambling activities. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno provide the bulk of this income. Other games, such as baccarat and video poker, have a smaller profit margin but still earn the casinos substantial income.

In addition to the games themselves, casinos use numerous methods to keep their patrons safe and honest. Casino security starts on the gaming floor, where casino employees are constantly monitoring their fellow gamblers to prevent blatant cheating, such as palming or marking cards or dice. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view, watching for betting patterns that could suggest a player is trying to steal money from the house.

Other security measures include a wide range of surveillance cameras, some visible to the public and others hidden in the ceilings. In some cases, casino security personnel watch the cameras remotely, using banks of computer screens to focus on suspicious patrons. These cameras also record all activity within the casino, which can be reviewed after a crime or cheating is detected. There is something about gambling, and the large amounts of money handled by casino staff and patrons alike, that seems to encourage people to cheat or steal. This is why casinos spend a lot of time and money on security.