A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons gamble by playing games of chance and skill. Most games have a house edge, which gives the casino an expected value that is uniformly negative (except in table games like poker where players compete against each other). Casinos earn money by charging a commission to bettors, called a rake. In addition to a rake, casinos often offer free or discounted items to regular patrons, called comps.
Casinos are carefully designed to influence visitor behavior. One design approach, called classic casino design, focuses on slot machines and creates intimate spaces to encourage visitors to stay longer and play more. Another approach, called playground design, features high ceilings and beautiful decor and tries to make the casino feel more like a fun place to spend time.
Security is also a big part of the casino experience. Many casinos have a full team of security employees who watch patrons and look for signs of cheating or illegal activities. In a typical casino, cameras mounted on the ceiling give a bird’s eye view of the entire floor. The images can be viewed in a separate room by security workers who can zoom in on suspicious patrons.
In order to maximize profits, casinos have become heavily dependent on technology. In the 1990s, casinos began using video surveillance systems and computerized games. In some games, computers can monitor the betting chips as they are placed to detect any statistical deviations from expected values; electronic roulette wheels have microcircuitry that can be monitored minute-by-minute; and video poker machines are programmed with varying payout odds to keep the house’s edge at a minimum.
