Casinos are famous for their dazzling lights, musical shows, five-star restaurants and other attractions but they would not exist without games of chance that draw in millions of visitors and rake in billions in profits. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat provide the entertainment that attracts tourists and locals to casinos.
Something about gambling (maybe the large amounts of money) seems to encourage people to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot instead of trying to win by random chance. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time, effort and money on security. Cameras and security monitors help them watch the building, paper shredders keep customer records secure and a wide variety of other equipment helps casinos protect themselves, their suppliers and their customers.
Keeping a casino running smoothly takes a lot of employees. Casinos must have a staff on hand to keep gamblers fed and supplied with drinks. They also hire large acts to perform at their venues and pay smaller acts to play throughout the day. Often these three things have to be managed at the same time, 24 hours a day, which can be challenging.
The casino must make sure that gamblers have a good experience, which includes providing free hotel rooms and meals to “good” players. These complimentary items, or comps, are intended to keep people coming back and playing the games. Some casinos even extend limo service and airline tickets to high rollers, or whales, in order to lure them to the tables.