A casino is a place where people can play a variety of games of chance for money. Although most casinos add luxuries such as restaurants, free drinks and dramatic scenery to attract gamblers, any public place that houses gambling activities could technically be called a casino.
Security starts on the casino floor, where casino employees keep their eyes on the games and patrons to make sure that everything goes as it should. Dealers are especially skilled at spotting blatant cheating, such as palming, marking or switching cards or dice. The dealers’ superiors, known as pit bosses and table managers, have a broader view of the action and are constantly checking to see how much money their tables are winning or losing. In addition, all casino staff must wear uniforms and be easily identifiable.
While casino owners strive to maximize gross profit, they must also take care not to alienate the public. This is why they offer low bettors complimentary items and services such as reduced-fare transportation, hotel rooms and free food and drinks while they gamble. In the twenty-first century, high rollers are targeted with even more extravagant inducements, such as private gaming rooms and luxury suites. This focuses casino revenue on the highest-stakes gamblers, who can generate huge profits for the house. These high-rollers also provide a large percentage of the casino’s publicity, which helps draw in other gamblers. This creates a positive feedback loop where the more gamblers a casino attracts, the more it makes.