In 2008, 24% of Americans visited a casino. In 1989, the same percentage spent time in a casino. This figure has decreased over time to around 18% today. The highest rollers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each day in the casino, and many gamble in special rooms separated from the main casino floor. Casinos reap huge profits from these high rollers, who receive free luxury suites, comps, and other lavish benefits. In 2008, nearly half of Americans had never attended college or had only some college credits.
When casino gaming first began in Nevada, the gambling industry was illegal in every state except for Nevada. This resulted in a high number of casinos in Nevada. Despite the legality of gambling, however, many organized crime figures were hesitant to participate in the industry due to its seamy reputation. Luckily, they had plenty of money from other illegal schemes and did not mind the dirty image of gambling. Throughout the 1950s, the mafia began pouring money into casinos in Reno and Las Vegas. Eventually, they had some of these casinos themselves.
Another important aspect of casino security is video surveillance. Casinos install cameras in every window and doorway and employ sophisticated surveillance systems to monitor all the action. The cameras can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons and record video feeds for review. The casino security system is so comprehensive that no one can guess which game a person is playing. It is important to note that security staff at a casino cannot be everywhere at once. They can’t keep track of everyone on the floor, so they can focus on security.