A casino is a facility where gambling activities take place, including games of chance and skill. Casinos are often built in conjunction with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. The precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it is generally believed to be present in most societies throughout history.
Modern casinos resemble indoor amusement parks, complete with musical shows, lavish hotels and fountains. But despite their glitzy trappings, casinos would not exist without the billions of dollars in profits raked in from the games of chance that they house. Slot machines, blackjack, poker, craps, baccarat and roulette all contribute to the casinos’ bottom line.
To be profitable, casinos must understand both the house edge of each game and its variance. They employ mathematicians and computer programmers to analyze the results of each game, identify the mathematical advantage of the casino and predict its volatility. The information is then used to design and monitor each game’s payouts, to adjust them for maximum profit.
In addition to knowing the mathematics behind each game, a casino also needs to have a solid handle on security. Casinos are a prime target for thieves, as well as for people who want to cheat, steal or scam their way into winning the jackpot. That is why most casinos spend a significant amount of time and money on security. They employ a variety of tactics to keep gamblers safe, from closed circuit television monitoring to catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down on the players.