What Makes a Casino Special?

When most people think of casino, they picture bright lights and big money. Whether it’s Las Vegas, Atlantic City or tiny mountain towns that house a few tables, casinos are all over the world and draw millions of visitors to try their luck at gambling.

Though elaborate hotels, lighted fountains and stage shows help attract customers, casinos would not exist without games of chance that generate the billions of dollars in profits they bring in every year. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette and other table games provide the entertainment and profit margin that draws in gamblers to risk their hard earned money.

Many casino patrons may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with other players or on their own. Most casinos employ security measures to counter these risks, including a system called “chip tracking” that records the amounts of betting chips in play minute by minute; a computerized system regularly audits roulette wheels to quickly identify any statistical deviation from expected results; and cameras placed throughout the gaming floor for surveillance purposes.

Casinos are designed to be stimulating and cheering environments, and the use of bright colors and gaudy decorations are meant to encourage customers. The color red is especially important to casino design, as it has been shown to cause customers to lose track of time. Consequently, casinos do not display clocks on their walls.