Casinos have become a popular and sophisticated lifestyle. A casino’s security starts on the casino floor where employees monitor game tables and patrons. Dealers are often focused on their game, but they are also aware of possible cheating, and pit bosses and table managers are watching the tables for signs of a cheating pattern. Every employee is closely monitored by someone in higher positions. In a recent survey, the average casino gambler was a 46-year-old female with an income above the median.
The casino is now a highly secure place to gamble, thanks to a host of technological advances. Video cameras and computers routinely supervise games, and “chip tracking” involves betting chips with microcircuitry to monitor wagers minute by minute. Casinos also keep a close eye on roulette wheels, which are regularly monitored for statistical deviations. The casino industry has stepped up its security measures since then, including cameras and video surveillance. But this is still not enough.
During the nineteenth century, gambling was illegal in most states, and casinos primarily drew gamblers from the wild west. However, as moral conservatism spread across the country, casinos quickly became a legal industry. In 1931, Nevada legalized casino gambling. This was due to Native American tribes converting small bingo halls into casinos. This led to other states trying to profit from this emerging industry. Eventually, nine states legalized casino gambling, including New Jersey.
