Casino, the gaming industry term for a gambling establishment, entices gamblers with free food and drink, luxurious living quarters and spectacular entertainment. Despite the enticements, there is one guarantee: The house always wins. Casinos spend a large portion of their revenues on security. They have many ways to ensure that the gamblers do not cheat or steal; this includes a full range of surveillance cameras and other technological measures. They also employ security guards, who patrol the floors and supervise table games. These security personnel keep an eye on gamblers and the games to catch any blatantly obvious cheating, such as palming, marking or switching cards, dice or chips.
In addition to securing the premises, casinos are staffed with employees to encourage and persuade people to gamble. They offer alcoholic drinks for free or at very low prices, and nonalcoholic beverages are available. They also use music and bright colors to create a mood of excitement and fun. The walls and floor are usually decorated with stimulating patterns or gaudy colors, like red, to make the gamblers feel more excited and entice them to gamble more money. Casinos are often loud, with noise coming from the slots, poker tables and craps games.
The average casino patron is a forty-six-year-old female from a household with above-average income, according to Harrah’s Entertainment. The oldest adults are the largest group of casino gamblers, because they have more vacation time and spending money than younger adults.
Gambling is a highly addictive activity, and many people develop compulsive gambling disorder, which causes them to spend money they do not have. This problem can cause a family to break up, and it can lead to problems at work or school. The cost of treating addicts and the lost productivity that results from their addiction offset any economic gains that the casino may bring to a community.
Something about the casino atmosphere encourages people to try to cheat or scam their way into winning. Something about the roar of the crowd, the lights and the noise of the casino seems to promote dishonesty. Casinos have many security measures to prevent this, including security cameras and other technology, and they employ employees to observe the gamblers. They also have rules of behavior that discourage cheating or stealing and require players to keep their hands visible at all times.
In order to maximize profits, casinos reward their biggest spenders with free goods and services. These perks are called “comps,” and they can include hotel rooms, dinners and tickets to shows. Some casinos even provide limousine service and airline tickets for the highest spenders. This system allows the casino to track the play of its customers and develop a customer database for future marketing. Casinos also have an electronic system that lets gamblers redeem points for free slot play and discounted or free meals, drinks or shows. The Bally’s Evansville Casino offers this type of program. Its gaming area features over 1,000 slot machines in various themes, and it offers a full selection of felt tables for 3-card poker, blackjack, roulette and craps.