Casino is a gambling establishment where customers can play games of chance, in some cases with a chance of winning real money. This type of gambling is regulated by the local laws and is legal in many countries, including the United States.
History
Gambling has been around for thousands of years, but the modern casino as we know it didn’t come about until the 19th century, in France. It began as a small clubhouse for Italians to meet in and grew into a massive industry that eventually spread throughout Europe.
In the United States, Nevada was the first state to legalize casino gambling in the early 1900s, and Atlantic City, New Jersey quickly followed. Since then, the number of casinos has grown steadily.
The majority of casinos are located in Nevada, but other states such as Arizona, California and Florida have also allowed gambling to be legalized. Interstate competition has been a driving force behind the continued growth of the industry.
Security
Casinos are a major target for crime and have developed a wide variety of security measures to protect their guests and assets. These include a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department.
A large number of security cameras are used to monitor all areas of the casino and can detect any suspicious activity. They are usually mounted on catwalks in the ceiling above the casino floor.
Most modern casino security is divided between a physical force and a specialized surveillance department, called the “eye in the sky”. The physical force patrols the premises while the specialized department monitors the closed circuit television system.