A casino is a gambling establishment where people wager on games of chance. Most casinos feature slot machines, table games such as poker and blackjack, and keno. Unlike the lottery or coin-flipping, these games require some level of skill. Casinos are often located in cities or towns that have legalized gambling and are open to the general public. In the United States, the highest concentration of casinos is in Nevada and Atlantic City. Some casinos also operate in Native American communities and other locations.
Because large amounts of money are handled in casinos, cheating and theft are a concern. Consequently, casinos employ a variety of security measures to deter such activities. Security cameras are placed throughout the casino and manned by trained security personnel. In addition, casino patrons must sign in and provide photo identification before they can place a bet or receive winnings. In order to detect cheating and stealing, security personnel watch patrons carefully for any unusual behavior.
Casino patrons are a diverse group. Some are wealthy and others have modest incomes. Some gamblers are young, but most are over forty. Some are single or widowed; others have children. Some are college graduates; others have no more than a high school diploma. Regardless of their age, education or income, however, all casino gamblers share one common trait: they like to have fun.
In the past, Nevada casinos attracted gambling tourists from all over the world. As other countries legalized gambling, Nevada’s casinos began losing business to them. To offset this loss, casinos introduced more attractions and upgraded their appearances. This trend is continuing, and many new casinos are being built.
The Las Vegas Valley has the highest concentration of casinos in the country, followed by Atlantic City and Chicago. Other areas with significant numbers of casinos include Reno, Illinois; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Buffalo, New York. Native American casinos are also growing rapidly.
Most casino games are based on chance, but some are more skill-oriented than others. For example, poker and blackjack require a certain amount of strategy, while keno requires attention to detail. In addition, a person who bets on sports must be familiar with the teams and players before placing his or her bet.
Casinos invest a huge amount of time and money in security. Some of this is obvious, such as security cameras that watch every table, window and doorway. But casinos also invest in more subtle security measures. The way dealers shuffle and deal cards and the typical movements and reactions of players follow patterns that are easy for security personnel to spot.
Something about the nature of gambling encourages people to try to cheat and steal, either in collusion with each other or on their own. As a result, casinos are constantly trying to improve their security measures. Currently, they are using electronic systems that monitor betting chips’ microcircuitry and allow casinos to supervise them minute by minute; video cameras are used to watch patrons; and roulette wheels and dice are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviations.
