Whether you roll the dice at a blackjack table, pull the lever on a slot machine or place your bets on a roulette wheel, the casino is the ideal place to satisfy that gambling urge. Casinos are big business and bring in billions of dollars for corporations, investors, Native American tribes and state and local governments.
While Las Vegas is the best-known casino destination, gambling establishments can be found in every region of the United States. They can be sprawling resorts with restaurants, shops and entertainment facilities or small card rooms located in bars or even grocery stores. In addition, a growing number of states are legalizing casino-type games on riverboats, at racetracks as racinos and in other venues.
Because so much money changes hands within a casino, both patrons and staff are prone to cheating and stealing. To prevent these ill-intended actions, casinos employ a variety of security measures. Many casino patrons are watched by surveillance cameras that can be adjusted to focus on suspicious behavior. In addition, some casinos have catwalks in the ceiling that allow security personnel to look directly down through one-way glass at all activities on the floor below.
In order to reward frequent gamblers, casinos offer comps such as free or discounted meals, drinks and shows. They also track players’ spending habits and tally up points that can be exchanged for cash or free game play. To help keep patrons focused on their gaming, casino decor is designed to be stimulating and cheery; red is a common color choice because it is believed to make people lose track of time.