Security and Gambling

A casino is a public hall where games of chance are played. Modern casinos are usually combined with restaurants, hotels, retail shopping, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. They offer a variety of gambling activities, including blackjack, poker, roulette and slot machines.

Gambling in its many forms has been a part of every society throughout history, from ancient Mesopotamia and Greece to Roman and Elizabethan England. In modern times, it has become one of the largest industries in the world. Casinos, like other businesses, must compete for customers and profits. To do this, they add luxuries like gourmet food, free drinks, live entertainment and dramatic scenery to the basic offering of gambling activities.

Most casino games have mathematically determined odds that give the house an advantage over players, and some have a skill element. The house takes a percentage of the money wagered, a sum called the vig or rake. Some games also have a maximum payout, which is set by law and varies by game type.

Most casinos have a physical security force that patrols the floor and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or criminal activity. In addition, a specialized surveillance department watches the floor through closed circuit television systems known as the eye in the sky. These cameras can be focused on specific patrons and adjusted to zoom in on suspicious activity. These sophisticated surveillance systems have helped to deter crime and reduce cheating among casino guests.