A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and earns billions in profits every year. Its entertainment venues and restaurants draw crowds, but the main attraction is gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, poker, craps, and other table games make up the majority of casino revenue.
The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park, with shopping, musical shows, and lighted fountains designed to draw in the customers. But the casino would not exist without its games of chance. It is the games that generate the profits that drive the entire business model.
Most of the casino profits are generated by a small percentage of high rollers that spend big money on high stakes games and generate large amounts of revenue. Many casinos offer these high rollers comps, or freebies, that can include free hotel rooms and luxury suites.
Because of the large amount of cash handled in a casino, both gamblers and staff are often tempted to cheat and steal, either in collusion with others or on their own. As a result, most casinos employ a variety of security measures to deter such activities. Cameras are placed throughout the facility; tables have built-in microcircuitry to monitor the exact amount wagered minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any deviation from expected results.
While the casino industry thrives on noise, light, and excitement, there is a dark side to the business. The casino is a haven for organized crime, which funnels cash into the business and takes sole or partial ownership of some of the casinos. The mobsters also take part in illegal rackets, such as drug dealing and extortion, which further damage the casino’s image and hurt the bottom line.