A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of gaming activities. It is usually designed to be a glamorous and exciting place, offering high-stakes games with high jackpot payouts. In addition to gambling, many casinos also feature restaurants, hotels, spas, and other amenities.
Because of the large amounts of money handled, casinos are often the targets of thieves and cheats (in collusion with each other or independently). The nature of the business makes it difficult to determine the percentage of such activity that occurs in any given casino, but it is known that a significant amount of theft does occur. Most modern casinos therefore spend a substantial amount of money and effort on security.
Traditionally, casino games are played in rooms segregated from the main floor of the establishment. This allows staff members to keep an eye on patrons and prevent them from engaging in prohibited activities. The casino floor is typically kept clean and bright, with carefully designed lighting to create an atmosphere of excitement and mystery. Most casinos display a prominent prize on the premises, such as a sports car on a rotating pedestal.
As a result of the high percentage of loss to theft in the casino industry, many establishments have increased their security measures significantly in recent years. A casino’s security force is generally divided into a physical department that patrols the property and a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system.