A casino is a public place where various games of chance are played. Though many casinos add a host of luxuries to draw customers including restaurants, bars, free drinks and stage shows, the core business is gambling. Some casinos specialize in a particular game while others feature several types of games.
The casino at Monte-Carlo opened in 1863 and is considered one of the world’s oldest and most famous. It is a major source of income for the principality of Monaco. It is known for its opulence and is a frequent location for films featuring James Bond. The casino’s architecture is reminiscent of a traditional opera house and it is also adorned with stunning sculptures.
While modern casinos boast hotels, non-gambling games rooms, shopping centers and elaborate themes, they would not exist without the billions in profits that come from games of chance like blackjack, roulette, poker and craps. Despite the fact that games of chance are generally based on luck, casinos still employ security personnel to protect their assets.
The basic security model in most modern casinos consists of a physical security force that patrols the casino floor and a specialized department that operates the casino’s surveillance system, often called “the eye in the sky”. Casinos are also able to use their technology to track suspicious behavior by watching patrons’ actions on video screens in a room filled with banks of monitors. This allows security workers to quickly spot any unusual activity.