Casino, as the name suggests, is a gambling establishment. Musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and elaborate themes are standard attractions, but the billions in profits that casinos rake in each year stem mainly from games of chance such as slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and baccarat.
While some gamblers are known to lose large sums, most players leave the casino with a profit. That’s because every game in a casino has built-in advantages that ensure the house will come out the winner. This mathematical advantage, which is called the house edge, is built into every game and can be seen at each table, seat or machine. Because of this virtual assurance of gross profit, casino managers lavishly offer big bettors free spectacular entertainment, luxury transportation and living quarters.
To keep tabs on the patrons, many casinos employ sophisticated surveillance systems. Casinos with a high-tech eye-in-the-sky system can monitor each table, window and doorway from a separate room filled with banks of security cameras. Casino surveillance systems can even focus on specific suspicious patrons by adjusting the camera’s view.
Other security measures include a well-trained staff and a high level of player awareness. The presence of a live chat button and easy-to-find customer support is another indicator of a top casino. If a site doesn’t make it clear how to contact customer service, that should be a major red flag. A good casino should also have no transaction fees for deposits and withdrawals. Look for this information in the banking section of their site footer.