Casinos are flamboyant and expensive entertainment complexes that lure customers with lavish rooms, shopping centers, restaurants and hotel amenities and then seduce them with games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, poker and other games of chance are what make up most of the billions in profits casinos rake in each year. But there is something about gambling that encourages people to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time and money on security.
Most of the security measures a casino uses are not visible to the customers. The most obvious are the cameras, positioned to watch all areas of the casino floor. Some cameras can be directed by security workers in a separate room filled with banks of monitors. The cameras can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons. Some of the cameras are equipped with infrared lenses to see at night and in low light.
Other security measures are less obvious but just as effective. The routines and patterns of casino games — how dealers shuffle cards, where the betting spots are on a table and the expected reactions and motions of players — all follow specific patterns. When someone breaks those patterns, it’s easier for security personnel to spot the breach. Similarly, the specialized sound systems and lighting in a casino are designed to create a special atmosphere and stimulate gamblers. Bright lights and noises create a sense of excitement and energy, while the use of the color red has psychological effects.