A casino is a gambling establishment that offers customers the opportunity to win or lose money on games of chance. These casinos typically feature a variety of table games, slot machines and video poker. In addition, many casinos offer a wide range of live entertainment. In the past, famous performers such as Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack graced the stages of Vegas casinos.
Although lavish hotels, musical shows and lighted fountains help draw gamblers, the vast majority of a casino’s profits are generated by its games of chance. The house edge on all casino games — from blackjack and roulette to craps, baccarat and keno — can be lower than two percent, but over the millions of bets placed by patrons each year, it adds up to enormous revenue for casino owners.
Historically, organized crime gangsters provided much of the capital necessary to keep casinos profitable, but federal crackdowns and the fear of losing a gaming license at even the slightest whiff of mob involvement soon drove them away. Real estate investors and hotel chains with deep pockets realized the potential of this business and began buying out the mobsters.
Modern casinos employ two sets of security personnel — physical and specialized — to protect the property and patrons. The physical security force patrols the floor and responds to calls for assistance and reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity, while the specialized surveillance department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system (CCTV). This eye in the sky can monitor the entire gambling floor in all directions and, in some cases, is able to zoom in on specific gamblers and their actions.