A casino is a place that allows patrons to gamble on various games of chance and, in some cases, skill. While casinos offer many luxuries to attract customers, such as restaurants, free drinks and stage shows, their profits are mostly generated by the billions of dollars that bettors wager each year. This article will explore how casinos make their money, and the history behind the games of chance that help them achieve their massive revenues.
In a survey of Nevada gamblers conducted in March 2002 by Gemini Research, respondents who admitted to gambling at least once during the previous year were asked which game they most enjoyed playing. Of the more than 500 participants, the largest portion selected slot machines. In second place were card games, followed by poker and then roulette and craps. Bingo and keno, on the other hand, attracted only about 6% of the Nevada gamblers.
Although casino owners and management want to maximize their profits, they must also keep their gambling establishments safe from crime and other security risks. As such, casino security begins on the floor where dealers and pit bosses watch over their tables, keeping an eye out for blatant cheating such as palming or marking cards and dice. Moreover, the routines and patterns of casino table games, from how dealers shuffle, deal and handle cards to the positioning of betting spots on the tables, follow specific patterns that can be easily spotted by security personnel with a quick glance.
The heightened security measures are also evident in the high-tech surveillance systems that are able to monitor every facet of the casino, from individual booths and slots to the entire floor. The cameras are connected to a control room where casino security staff can view and adjust the camera’s settings based on suspicious behavior or any other threat that might arise.
While legitimate businessmen were reluctant to get involved with casinos because of their taint of vice, organized crime figures had ample cash from their drug dealing and extortion rackets to fund many gambling operations in Reno and Las Vegas. Mobster money brought credibility to casino businesses, and in turn, allowed them to attract more American gamblers. But federal crackdowns on mafia influence on casinos, along with the risk of losing a gaming license at even the slightest hint of mob involvement, caused many casino owners to distance themselves from the Mafia.
As more and more states legalized casino gambling, the popularity of these glamorous entertainment centers increased. In addition to providing a variety of gambling opportunities, casino resorts now feature dozens of restaurants, shopping centers and hotels that rival the luxury of any other resort in the world. In fact, some of the most famous casinos, such as the Monte Carlo, have been featured in several James Bond movies. The casino’s iconic status has helped boost the reputation of these luxurious establishments around the globe.