A casino is a large building where people can gamble and play games of chance. Many people love taking weekend bus trips to casinos with their friends to try their luck at games like blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Casinos often include entertainment and shopping centers to attract customers, but they would not exist without games of chance, which generate billions in profits each year.
A few years ago, the average casino patron was a forty-six-year-old woman from a high-income household. The average income of a casino patron was $22,600 per month, and most were employed full time. This compares with the median income of the entire United States, which was $31,300 per month.
The majority of casino profits are generated by slot machines and video poker, which require a low investment in equipment and can be adjusted to produce any desired profit. Craps, roulette and keno also bring in significant revenue. In fact, it is difficult for a casino to lose money on any game. Each game has a built-in advantage for the casino, which can be as little as two percent.
Casino security is usually divided into a physical force and a specialized surveillance department. The latter uses cameras, monitors and specialized software to watch the actions of players. Every action is logged, and statistical deviations from the norm are instantly noted. This enables casino security to catch anyone acting suspicious. The routines of the games themselves also help to deter criminal activity. Observing the way the dealer places and deals cards or rolls the dice can give security personnel clues about any irregularities.
