A Casino is a gambling establishment. The precise origin of casinos is unknown, but they probably emerged in ancient societies where people pursued luck through games of chance.
Today, a casino is more than just a place to gamble. It’s often an entertainment complex complete with musical shows, lighted fountains and shops, although the billions of dollars in profits raked in every year by casinos still comes from the millions of Americans who play the various casino games.
Gambling is a legal activity in many states, but the specific laws vary from state to state. Some prohibit casino gambling altogether, while others allow it only on Indian reservations or within state borders. Most American states, however, have some type of regulation in place to ensure that casinos are fair and safe places for their patrons.
Most casinos are protected by a network of security cameras. Casino employees also watch over the casino floor with a more focused view, keeping an eye out for blatant cheating like palming or marking cards, as well as observing betting patterns that might indicate collusion between patrons. In addition, most casinos employ a number of “higher-up” personnel who monitor the action.
Despite these precautions, there are many ways that casino patrons can cheat or steal. In fact, this is the primary reason for the need for such a sophisticated security system. In the past, organized crime figures provided a steady flow of cash to Reno and Las Vegas casinos, taking outright or partial ownership in some cases and using their mob connections to influence the outcomes of some games.
