Security Measures at a Casino

A casino is a place where people can gamble on games of chance. It may be combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, or other entertainment venues. The term casino may also refer to a specific gambling establishment, such as a horse racetrack or craps hall. Casinos can also refer to places that host live entertainment events, such as stand-up comedy shows or concerts.

Because casinos handle large amounts of money, both patrons and staff may be tempted to steal or cheat, either in collusion or independently. Therefore, most casinos have security measures in place to deter these activities. The most obvious are security cameras throughout the facility, which can be monitored by security personnel in a room filled with banks of monitors.

In addition to cameras, many casinos employ other security measures. For example, table games such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat feature specialized chips that have built-in microcircuitry to allow the casino to oversee the exact amount of money wagered minute-by-minute; and the results of spinning wheels (such as those on roulette) are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviations from expected behavior.

In addition to these technological measures, casinos use lighting and other cues to deter theft and cheating. For example, the color red is often used to stimulate gambling activity; there are no clocks on the walls of casino rooms; and the floor and wall coverings are designed to be highly reflective so that patrons cannot conceal items from security personnel.