In a casino, money is made by gambling on games of chance. While casinos may feature musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers, lavish hotels and elaborate themes to draw in visitors, the bulk of their profits come from slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and baccarat. While there are a few games that require skill, most of the time the odds of winning a particular game are set by mathematical calculations that give the house an advantage.
The house edge can be as low as two percent, but over the millions of bets placed each year by casino patrons, it adds up. That is how the casinos can afford to build huge pyramids, towers and replicas of famous landmarks. Casinos also earn revenue from other sources, including food and beverage sales, hotel rooms and ticket sales for concerts and other events.
Casinos often reward their high-spending customers with complimentary items, or comps, to keep them playing and spending more money. These free gifts can include hotel rooms, meals or even airline tickets and limo service. The amount of comps you receive depends on the size of your bets and the total time spent at the casino. Ask a casino employee for details.
As a result, many casinos are focusing more on high rollers to drive up their revenues. These customers gamble in special rooms away from the main floor, where the stakes are in the tens of thousands of dollars. They are given a dedicated staff, private tables and luxurious amenities. High-rollers also generate a lot of buzz in the media, making them attractive to potential investors.
Despite the popularity of video poker, table games and other games of chance, there is one thing that is certain about casino gambling: you will lose more than you win. Casinos have a built in advantage for the house, and while this advantage can be lower than two percent on individual games, it is enough to earn casinos billions of dollars each year.
To combat cheating and stealing, casinos have strict rules of conduct for their employees and patrons. Security personnel are constantly monitoring the gaming areas, ensuring that everyone is following the rules of each game and that no one is stealing or cheating. Using advanced technology, some casinos can supervise each game on a minute-by-minute basis and instantly detect any statistical deviations from expected results. In addition to security cameras, many casinos now use microcircuitry in the betting chips to monitor how much is being wagered at each game and alert dealers and players immediately of any suspicious activity. Other technologies include chip tracking, which uses computer systems to oversee the exact amounts of each bet minute-by-minute, and electronic monitoring of roulette wheels to uncover any anomalies. The large sums of money handled by a casino can make it a target for both thieves and collusion between patrons and staff. For this reason, most casinos use security cameras throughout the property to prevent any problems.