A casino is a place where people can play games of chance for money. Some casinos add a lot of extra luxuries to their operations, like restaurants and stage shows, but the most important part of any casino is its gambling activities.
The large amounts of money handled in a casino make it susceptible to both cheating and stealing, either in collusion between patrons or by individuals working independently. To combat this, many casinos have extensive security measures in place. These usually involve a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department, sometimes called the “eye in the sky” because of their location in a prominent spot in the casino.
In addition to observing the betting patterns of players, these security officers also observe more subtle things like how dealers shuffle and deal cards and where they put the bet spots on a table. They can then quickly detect any deviation from the expected routine.
Because of the house edge and other mathematical odds, it is very rare for a casino to lose money on its casino games. To compensate for this virtual assurance of profit, they often offer players comps (free goods and services) based on the amount of time they spend playing and the level of their wagers. These can include free hotel rooms, meals and tickets to shows. In some cases, the best players are even given limo service and airline tickets. Some of the most famous casino owners in the world have made fortunes by building and operating casinos around the globe.