A casino is a place where people play games of chance and where gambling is the primary activity. Some casinos add a variety of other luxuries and amenities to attract patrons, but a casino is basically a place where gambling happens.
Because so much money is handled within a casino, there are a lot of opportunities for cheating and stealing. Some casinos have security measures in place to prevent these problems. Security cameras are common. In addition, many casinos have security personnel in the pit and around the tables to make sure that no one is stealing or cheating. These employees also watch the game play and the betting patterns of patrons to spot suspicious activity.
Despite these measures, some patrons do attempt to cheat and steal. Whether in collusion or by themselves, these activities can deprive casinos of substantial amounts of revenue. For this reason, most casinos spend a great deal of time and effort on security.
In addition to hiring security staff, most casinos hire people who specialize in gaming analysis. These mathematicians and computer programmers study the house edge and variance for each game to determine how much of a profit the casino will make. They also use mathematical formulas to calculate how much cash the casino needs to have on hand to pay out winning bets. These calculations help casinos avoid running out of money and ensure that their patrons are paid fairly. The casino also keeps detailed records of all transactions, which can be used to track down suspects.