The Importance of Casino Security
A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These casinos may include large resorts, as well as smaller card rooms and gaming arcades. The casinos are owned by private companies, local governments, or Native American tribes. They generate billions in profits each year for their owners, investors and managers. They also support a variety of other activities and attractions, including shopping centers, restaurants and musical shows. In some places, casinos are combined with racetracks or other entertainment venues to create racinos.
In modern times, most casinos are highly regulated. They employ a physical security force and specialized surveillance departments. The surveillance departments use closed circuit television and other electronic means to monitor all activity within the casino. Some of the more sophisticated casinos even monitor the actual game play itself, using techniques such as chip tracking to oversee the exact amounts wagered minute by minute and quickly discover any statistical deviation from expected results.
While these technological measures are important, the biggest component of casino security is observing and recognizing patterns. Dealers, pit bosses and other employees watch over table games with a trained eye to catch any suspicious behavior. They pay attention to the way patrons shuffle and deal cards, how they place their bets, and other subtle clues that can indicate cheating. Most importantly, they keep their eyes on the money – the chips are watched closely to ensure that no one is pocketing them or marking them in any way.