A casino is a special establishment where people can gamble, spend time with friends and enjoy drinks or meals and also have the chance to win some money. These establishments are located all over the world and they can be found in countries with legal gambling.
Throughout the United States, casino gambling is regulated in two ways: through state-owned casinos and through privately owned casinos. The state-owned casinos are operated by various gaming boards, while the privately owned ones are operated by the owners of the casinos. Casinos can be found in many cities and they are often combined with other entertainment venues such as hotels, restaurants and retail shopping malls.
It is possible for both patrons and staff of a casino to cheat and steal, either in collusion or independently. To prevent this, casinos use a variety of security measures. Security cameras located throughout the casino are one common measure, as are strict rules about who can enter or leave the casino at any given time.
Casinos also try to lure customers with free items, called comps. During the 1970s, Las Vegas casinos were known for giving away cheap buffet passes and free show tickets to attract as many people as possible. This strategy proved successful, and it helped to bring in more revenue.
Modern casino security is usually divided into a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The physical security force patrols the casino and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. The specialized surveillance department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, which is often referred to as “the eye in the sky.”
