Casinos are gambling houses that offer a variety of games of chance. They usually add restaurants, free drinks, dramatic scenery and stage shows to lure patrons into risking their money. Although there have been less extravagant places that housed gambling activities before, the modern casino has come to define what we think of when we hear the word.
Because of the large amounts of money involved, patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. That’s why casinos spend a great deal of time, effort and money on security. Security starts on the floor, where employees watch over the games. Dealers can easily spot blatant cheating like palming, marking or switching dice or cards. Other security measures include cameras, and the routines and patterns of play at each table or slot machine.
Most casinos feature the classic games of poker, blackjack and roulette, but some have more exotic games. In Asia, for example, some casinos have tables featuring Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan tan and pai gow. Some have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down on the players through one way glass.
Some casinos give players comps (free goods and services) based on how much they gamble or how long they play. These may include food, drinks and hotel rooms, but can also extend to limo service and airline tickets. Most casinos have a mathematical expectation of winning, and it is very rare for them to lose money on a single day’s business.