A casino is a place where champagne glasses clink and people try their luck at games of chance. It’s also a place where the sound of slot machines and blackjack tables fill the air and create an atmosphere of euphoria. These days casinos use all sorts of tricks to lure and keep customers. They waft scented oils throughout their ventilation systems to make people feel comfortable, and they play music to create a jubilant mood. They offer free alcoholic drinks to keep gamblers at their tables and in their seats. They even program their slot machines to give out near-misses to keep players gambling.
But the truth is that most casino patrons enter knowing they are going to lose money, even if it’s only a small amount. That’s because they make a conscious decision to allow themselves a certain amount of losses before they gamble. Casinos make a lot of money off of this phenomenon, and it is the reason why they’re so popular.
Besides relying on a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” surveillance system, modern casinos have strict rules and regulations for their patrons. They employ security workers to watch every table, window and doorway, and the cameras can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons. They have a separate room filled with banks of security monitors to review tapes in the event of a crime or cheating incident.
Casinos spend a great deal of time, effort and money on their security. But they’re not foolproof, and something about the nature of gambling seems to encourage some people to cheat, steal or scam their way into winning a jackpot.
