There is something about casinos that seems to bring out the worst in some people; or rather it seems that the presence of large sums of money have the tendency to encourage people to cheat. Many people have gone in to the casino thinking they could “beat the system.” Truth is; you can’t. Casinos spend billions of dollars a year in security- employing some of the most high tech methods out there for catching everyone from your garden variety cheater, to card counters, and even high-level operations like the MIT Blackjack Team.
Casinos employ dozens of ways to protect their money and their casino. Each casino is different and uses a different tactic. However, there are three common strategies almost every casino from Las Vegas to the American Indian casinos uses to ward of cheaters.
The Eyes on Floor- Casino Staff
If you have visited a casino, you have probably noticed the hoard of casino employees walking around the floor. These employees serve a variety of functions; fixing stalled slot machines, making change, assisting visitors, etc. However, all casino employees have one thing in common- they are all trained to spot cheating. Every casino employee on the floor has their ears and eyes peeled for suspicious behavior. They have undergone hours of training from advanced security teams. Chances are; you will be spotted.
Table Managers and Pit Bosses
The dealer isn’t the only one watching your poker table. Casinos also have table managers and pit bosses. These casino employees are trained to notice patterns that could indicate cheating at the poker table. Most casinos assign a pit boss or table manager to one specific table or any area of tables. If there is a high-stakes game going on, you can be assured at least one pit boss is watching that table like a hawk.
Eyes in the Sky
Casinos don’t just rely on the human eye to watch over their investment. Every major casino has a set of security cameras installed that look over the flood. These cameras are manned off the floor by an entire staff. They are angled to watch the tables, the slots, the cashier, and just about everywhere in the casino. Odds are the casino you frequent has dozens of security staff who spend their days with their eyes glued to the security camera monitors. Security staff positioned at the monitors are equipped with two-way radios that connect them with other employees on the casino floor. Chances are; a cheater won’t make it out of the building if they try.
The urge to cheat your way into winnings can be great, especially for gambling enthusiasts. People who frequent one casino can start to believe that they “have things figured out.” Odds are; they don’t. Casinos invest a large portion of their holdings in to stopping these people in their tracks.
