What You Need to Know About a Casino
A casino is an establishment that offers various types of gambling. Most casinos also offer other amenities like hotels, restaurants and bars.
Whether they’re built on land, in cities or on cruise ships, modern casinos are designed around noise, light and excitement. They encourage patrons to interact by shouting encouragement or offering free drinks and food. Many are decorated with bright and sometimes gaudy colors, often red, that are believed to make people lose track of time. There are usually no clocks on the walls.
Security in a casino starts on the floor, where dealers watch over each other and patrons carefully. Dealers are heavily focused on their own games and can quickly spot blatant cheating such as palming, marking or switching cards or dice. Pit bosses and table managers keep an eye on the action as well, watching for betting patterns that could signal fraud. Cameras in the ceiling give staff a “eye-in-the-sky” view of every room and can be focused on specific suspects.
Most casinos rely on high-stakes gamblers to make their profits. These gamblers, known as “high rollers,” spend tens of thousands of dollars or more on each bet. The casino rewards these gamblers with perks like free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows. These perks are called comps. If you’re planning a trip to a casino, ask the information desk about getting comped.
