The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults. While slot machines, black jack roulette, and craps bring in most of the billions in profits that casinos make each year, there are a number of other games offered, too. Some casinos offer traditional Far Eastern games, such as sic bo (which spread to several American and European casinos in the 1990s) and pai gow, while others include classic games like two-up and baccarat.
Because casinos handle large sums of money, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or independently. To protect their assets, casinos spend a significant amount of time and money on security. In addition to armed guards, most casinos have cameras that watch every table, window, and doorway. The cameras are usually in a room filled with banks of security monitors and can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons.
There is one certainty in gambling: the house always wins. Even the most skilled player, if he plays long enough, will lose his money. The house edge, or the casino’s expected profit margin, is built into every game. But it is difficult to see that in the midst of the excitement and bright lights of a casino. Casinos are designed to look and feel like gambling palaces, complete with a host of distractions that prevent players from thinking about the odds of winning. This is why windows and clocks are rarely seen in a casino, and why there are no chimes to remind players of the passage of time.