A casino is a place where a variety of games of chance are played and where gambling is the primary activity. A casino may also offer a number of other luxurious amenities, including restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. But it’s the gambling that really brings in the customers.
Gambling is popular among a wide range of Americans, but some groups are more likely to visit casinos than others. According to research from the Harrah’s Entertainment and Roper Reports GfK NOP, in 2005, the average casino gambler was a forty-six-year-old woman from a household with above-average income.
Most modern casinos use high-tech surveillance systems to protect patrons and prevent crime. A security force patrols the floor, while a specialized department operates the cameras. This “eye in the sky” system can be viewed by security workers in a separate room filled with banks of monitors and can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons.
In addition to surveillance, a modern casino has a large staff of dealers, pit bosses and table managers who oversee the games and make sure that patrons are following the rules. Dealers can quickly spot blatant cheating, such as palming cards or marking dice. Pit bosses and table managers keep track of the total amount wagered on each game, watching for betting patterns that could indicate a shift in the balance of power.
During the 1970s, Las Vegas casinos were famous for offering perks designed to encourage gamblers to spend more money. These included deeply discounted travel packages, cheap buffets and free show tickets. During this time, casinos were also expanding across the country and into Canada. Some states even legalized riverboat gambling and Native American casinos.