Casinos employ elaborate surveillance systems to monitor patrons and ensure customer safety. There are cameras located above every table, window, and doorway, and the video feeds are recorded and easily reviewable afterwards. Casinos also employ computer chips that randomly determine payouts at slot machines. This way, the casino can catch cheaters in the act.
Local officials also need to know if the new casino will bring employment to the local community. This is important because the job creation promise of a casino is not always realized. In urban areas, where the labor force is sufficiently diverse, the new casino may increase local employment. On the other hand, in rural areas, most of the new hires will likely be from outside the area. Casinos can also increase local tax revenue, which is beneficial to the local economy.
Casinos are a marketplace, so customers can purchase a chance to turn $1 into $2 instantly, or they can play games of chance. The house has an 8% advantage on slot machines, and a 1% advantage in table games. A typical player will spend nine minutes at a slot machine and over forty minutes playing a table game.
Some casinos offer a variety of comps. Some casinos offer higher-end comps for larger spenders while others offer smaller comps for smaller spenders. Most casinos also offer club memberships similar to airline frequent-flyer programs. Players who have a club membership accumulate points, which can be exchanged for free slot play, free or discounted food and drinks, or free tickets to a show. Casino comp programs are valuable marketing tools for the casino, as they help casinos create patron databases that can be used for advertising and trend tracking.