Customers gamble in casinos to win prizes. These gamblers place large bets and are often known as high rollers. These high rollers play in special rooms separate from the main casino floor. High rollers play for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and casino executives focus a great deal of money and effort to attract them. High rollers receive comps worth thousands of dollars, luxury suites, and lavish personal attention. This is how casinos make so much money.
Gambling has been around since the beginning of recorded history. Earlier versions of the game used cut knuckle bones or carved six-sided dice. In the 16th century, the casino concept was conceived as a gambling club. This craze spread throughout Europe. Italian aristocrats would hold private parties at clubs known as ridotti, or private gambling clubs. In these parties, gambling was the main pastime. As a result, nobles could often expect to be visited by the Italian Inquisition if they were found to be gambling.
To protect the patrons and the property of the casino, casinos employ elaborate surveillance systems. Cameras in the ceiling are designed to monitor each table and doorway, and can be adjusted to focus on patrons who may be cheating. These video feeds are recorded and stored for later review. Casinos are also equipped with computer chips that determine the payout of slot machines. The machines themselves do not watch the casino floor. And since these machines are so sophisticated, no one can see the players’ handwriting.