Gambling establishments, often called Casino, offer the possibility to win real money by playing games of chance or skill. Some casinos are owned by private companies, while others are publicly-owned and operated as part of state-run gaming venues. Regardless of ownership, most casinos are built around gambling, entertainment, and dining. Many also feature sports betting and other forms of lottery-like gambling.
Casinos are heavily regulated by governments and private entities, with a focus on security. The large amounts of money handled in casinos make them a target for cheating and theft by both patrons and employees, either in collusion or independently. Because of this, most casinos have security measures such as cameras and secure areas. Some also have special catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look down on activities at tables and slot machines through one-way glass.
Despite these precautions, casino crime is still a problem, and it is estimated that over three-quarters of casino losses stem from internal theft. To minimize this risk, modern casinos usually split their security force between a physical security team and a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system (CCTV). Moreover, most of these departments work together to investigate all reported incidents of suspicious or definite criminal activity. They are aided by a special type of software that allows them to monitor and manage all aspects of casino operations, including the distribution of bonuses, the tracking of customer accounts, and the handling of various forms of payments.