Security at a Casino

A casino is a gambling establishment with table games like blackjack, roulette, and craps, and slot machines. It is also a place where people can watch sports events on big screens. Casinos are a major source of revenue for many cities and towns.

In modern casinos, security is divided between a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The former patrols the casino and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. The latter monitors the casino’s closed circuit television system (CCTV), sometimes referred to as “the eye in the sky.”

During the 1990s, technological advancements in the gaming industry greatly increased the use of electronic surveillance equipment. For example, the chips used for betting are wired to allow casinos to monitor the amount of money wagered minute by minute and alert them of any statistical deviations; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any tampering or abnormal spins.

In the United States, there are more than 1,000 casinos. Las Vegas has the highest concentration of them, but Atlantic City and Chicago are also important gambling centers. Historically, some American casinos were run by Native American tribes, but they have been eclipsed by the proliferation of commercial and regional casinos that are often built around a resort destination. A number of these casinos are owned by large corporations that also operate other businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, and shopping malls. Others are operated by state governments or local governmental agencies.