The public has long had a fascination with casinos, from the Rat Pack movies in the early 1960s to the remake starring George Clooney in 2001. A casino is the ideal location for gambling and entertainment, with thousands of tables, one-armed bandits, five-star dining, and glittering lights. It is also the place where the rich get rich and the poor get poorer. Millions of dollars are exchanged inside its doors each day.
The house edge is the house’s percentage of a bet’s value. A casino will never pay more than it takes in. However, the odds for winning a game are in its favor. The casino’s mathematical expectation of winning is high on every game it offers. As a result, casinos seldom lose money in a given game. They also offer extravagant inducements to attract big-spending customers, such as free drinks or cigarettes.
Today’s casinos are also increasingly using technology to prevent fraud. The use of video cameras, computers, and other devices allows the casino to monitor all activities and transactions. The casino’s computer systems monitor each game’s odds minute by minute. Security equipments, such as cameras, protect the building from burglars and criminals. The use of protective document boxes and paper shredders helps to keep customer records safe. It also protects customers’ personal information.