Security Measures in a Casino

A casino is a gambling establishment, a place where people play games of chance for money or other prizes. The games of chance include table games, like blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat, as well as video poker. There are also machine games, such as slot machines, which offer a more automated and less personal experience. In some cases, casinos also offer complimentary items or services to players, known as comps.

Something about the large amounts of money handled within a casino encourages both patrons and staff to cheat and steal, in collusion or independently. As a result, most casinos invest a significant amount of time and money in security. The most obvious security measure is the use of cameras throughout the casino. These are usually located in the ceiling, and can be aimed at any suspicious activity from a separate room filled with banks of security monitors.

Another security method is the strict enforcement of rules and regulations, particularly in card and table games. Dealers must be very careful to shuffle and deal cards correctly, and table managers and pit bosses must watch patrons for betting patterns that might indicate cheating. These security measures help keep the house edge as small as possible.

Despite these precautions, it is impossible to completely prevent cheating and theft in a casino. For this reason, most casinos have a variety of other security measures, including the use of secret observers and sleuths to spot suspect behavior.