A casino is a place where gambling activities take place. It typically adds a host of luxuries to help attract patrons, including restaurants, free drinks and stage shows. However, beneath the veneer of flashing lights and glitzy entertainment is a mathematically engineered system that aims to slowly bleed its customers of their money. Throughout the years, mathematicians have used their knowledge of probability and game theory to exploit weaknesses in this rigged system, but ultimately the house always wins.

To keep customers engaged and playing for longer, casinos create a manufactured blissful environment with dazzling lights and the joyful sound of slot machines. They also waft scented oils in their ventilation systems to make visitors feel at home and encourage them to spend more time inside. They even create maze-like walkways filled with enticing games to keep players moving and unable to find their way out.

Casinos also employ a variety of surveillance and security measures. They often use cameras with a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” that can be adjusted to focus on tables, windows and doorways. They may also use electronic sensors that can detect suspicious activity and send a message to security personnel to intervene. These cameras and systems are supplemented by the human element of floor supervisors who watch over the games and patrons. They are usually trained to spot patterns of behavior that can be a warning sign of cheating or a crime. They are also expected to uphold a certain level of professionalism and respect for patrons.