Whether a casino has a glam Las Vegas strip location or an intimate, wood-paneled affair in the middle of the desert, it is designed to appeal to human senses and emotions. Music, lights and noise attract patrons to slot machines, blackjack tables and other games that offer a chance at winning big money. But even though the casinos draw people in with musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers, the majority of their profits come from gambling.
Many casinos also focus on pampering their high rollers, who gamble large amounts and generate a disproportionate amount of profit for the establishment. These high rollers may be given special rooms where they can play in privacy away from the rest of the casino floor, and casinos give them a wide range of other perks like free luxury suites, restaurant comps and special treatment by security personnel.
The United States remains the undisputed frontrunner in casino earnings, largely because of its enormous population. But more than that, Americans are a gambling-oriented society. A recent study by Roper Reports GfK NOP showed that forty-six percent of American adults have participated in a casino game in the previous year.
Because of the enormous sums of money handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. Casinos therefore employ a variety of security measures to ensure that the games are played fairly. For example, specialized cameras can monitor table games in a way that allows security to quickly spot suspicious betting patterns or tampering. Other methods of ensuring fairness include having pit bosses and table managers watch over the games with a more sweeping view, making sure that players are not colluding to rig the game and that dealers are not engaging in blatant cheating.