Casinos are places where people can gamble and play games of chance. They are found all over the world in everything from massive resorts to small card rooms. They are also located on American Indian reservations and on boats and barges that operate on waterways. Casinos provide billions of dollars in profits each year to their owners, investors and employees, but studies indicate that they also divert local spending from other entertainment activities and have a negative economic impact due to the high rates of compulsive gambling among their patrons.

Modern casinos are like indoor amusement parks for adults, but the vast majority of their profits come from games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, poker and roulette are the big money makers. Other games such as keno, bingo and craps generate smaller amounts of money. Musical shows, lighted fountains and elaborate themes are intended to lure the gamblers in, but it is the games that keep them coming back.

Something about the glitz and glamour of a casino seems to encourage people to cheat, steal and scam their way into a jackpot. That’s why casinos spend a great deal of time and effort on security.

In addition to the physical security force that patrols the casino floor, a specialized surveillance department operates cameras throughout the building and on its exterior. The sophisticated systems, often referred to as an eye-in-the-sky, allow security personnel to watch every table, window and doorway with the flick of a switch. In addition, some casinos have catwalks built into the ceiling over the gaming floor that allow security to look down through one-way glass at the games being played.