Security at a Casino

A casino (or gambling house) is an establishment for certain types of gambling. These establishments are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Casino can also refer to an officers’ mess, a place for officers of the military or civil service to relax and gamble. The word casino is derived from the Latin caino, meaning “a small enclosure.”

While musical shows, lighted fountains and lavish hotels help attract players, casinos would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and other table games contribute billions in profits to American casinos every year. But how do these businesses earn so much money?

In addition to their dazzling design and high-roller clientele, the most famous casinos are known for their security. This starts on the casino floor, where employees have a wide view of patrons and can spot blatant cheating such as palming or marking cards or dice. At table games, pit bosses and pit boss monitors keep an eye on the game as well, watching for betting patterns that might indicate cheating.

Casinos are usually divided into several security departments, each responsible for a different aspect of the business. A physical security force patrols the premises and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity, while a specialized surveillance department oversees the casino’s closed circuit television system. Each of these departments is coordinated by a casino security manager.