A casino is a gambling establishment that allows patrons to wager on games of chance with real money. Though musical shows, lighted fountains and hotels help draw in the crowds, casinos would not exist without the games of chance that give them their billions of dollars in profits every year. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and keno are just a few of the many popular casino games. In addition to the blazing lights and lavish decor, casinos employ a variety of security measures to keep gamblers safe and the casino’s assets secure.

Security begins on the casino floor, where dealers and table managers keep an eye out for blatant cheating or stealing by other players. These workers are well trained to spot such behavior by familiar patterns in the way that players move and react at the tables. Each worker also has a “higher up” person monitoring them, looking for more subtle signs of cheating and other suspicious behavior. Casinos also use an elaborate system of closed circuit television, known as the eye-in-the-sky, that can monitor a full casino at once.

A casino’s security department is usually divided into a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The physical security force patrols the casino, responding to calls for assistance or definite reports of crime. The specialized surveillance department operates the casino’s extensive CCTV network. Casinos record all video feeds, so that if an incident occurs, the casino can replay the footage to determine who was responsible.