While Nevada was once the only state that legalized gambling, other states began to follow suit, and casinos popped up in places such as Atlantic City and Chicago. In the 1990s, states like Iowa and New Jersey began legalizing casino gambling. These changes, in turn, encouraged Native American casinos to spread across the country. But the popularity of gambling in large cities still didn’t stop the mob from setting up shop. In the United States, there are now over 1,000 casinos.
The house advantage, also known as the house edge, refers to the difference between true odds and the casino’s payouts. The house edge varies by game and is expressed as a percentage. The higher the house edge, the more the casino makes. In casino games, the house edge can be as high as 2%. But a 2% house edge doesn’t mean the casino is always losing money. In fact, casinos can even earn money by paying you a higher percentage than your winnings!
To be safe, casinos invest in security. The casino employs two types of security officers: a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The former patrols the casino and responds to calls for assistance. The latter operates a closed-circuit television system, also known as the “eye in the sky”. The two departments work closely together to protect the casino’s guests and protect its assets. This combination of security personnel has proven quite effective at preventing crime.