The word casino may invoke images of glitzy Las Vegas, where top-notch hotels, restaurants and entertainment are the hallmark of this gambling mecca. While shows, shopping centers and hotel rooms help draw the crowds, casinos would not exist without games of chance – and the billions in profits they rake in each year. Blackjack, roulette, craps and other table and slot games provide the core of casino activities.

The casino business is all about making you stay and spend money, which is why they employ tactics that play on your senses. Bright lights and the sound of pennies dropping (even though slots stopped using them a long time ago) create an artificially euphoric experience that makes you want to keep playing. Scents can also affect people’s behavior, which is why many casinos use a combination of pleasant aromas in their ventilation systems and waft them throughout the facility.

Modern casinos have also made extensive use of technology to monitor their operations. Video cameras and computers supervise the games themselves, enabling casino managers to monitor exactly how much is wagered minute by minute, and detect any statistical deviations that could signal cheating. Chip tracking uses microcircuitry to allow the casino to oversee bets as they are placed and warn dealers if any of them are suspicious; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for any anomalies. As for security, a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” system lets casino employees watch every window, doorway and table from a central control room.