Going out of their way to attract potential punters – and their wallet – and keep them on their premises. The big casinos in Las Vegas (USA) operate inside luxurious hotels, open for visitors to visit their restaurants, pools and themed attractions. “The hotel is designed for people to always pass through the casino on the way between one sector and another”, explains Ciro Batelli, who was formerly executive vice-president of the Caesars Palace chain.
With attentive service, the hotel-casino offers perks to keep potential players close to a table or gaming machine at all times. In Las Vegas, gambling is serious business, closely overseen by the Nevada State Gambling Commission, which regulates everything from chip making to employee licensing. In Brazil, casinos have been prohibited since 1946.
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banking
Casino hotels attract more than 38 million tourists a year to Las Vegas, the gambling mecca
THIS IS A CARD
The colored chips make it easier to control the amount traded and encourage players to “let go” – after all, it is easier to risk chips than real money. Those who arrive at the casino with no cash can withdraw money at ATMs and then exchange it for chips.
TOTAL SURVEILLANCE
Multiple cameras with zoom and facial recognition systems record everything, all the time. If a cheater is caught, he is taken to view the recordings and then handed over to the police. In some casinos, there are even lip-readers to check if someone is cheating – that’s why dealers can’t wear mustaches!
LOYALTY PROGRAM
Everyone parks for free and drinks are served by beautiful waitresses. According to the volume of bets, the casino offers gifts and perks, such as free accommodation in the hotel and even the cost of air tickets
CARDS ON THE TABLE
Roulette, craps, blackjack and baccarat are table games banked by the casino, that is, the customer bets against the bank. Poker is an exception, with players banking bets with each other and paying commission to the casino.
DON’T FALL OUT
The whole place is designed to encourage betting. There are only chairs at the gaming tables or next to the machines. The walls have no windows or clocks, so the player loses track of time. And the predominant color, red, makes the place cozy and challenging.
SHOW OF THE MILLIONS
To keep things going, hotels host everything from business conventions to televised poker tournaments. But what attracts most people are the boxing matches and artistic performances, such as Cirque du Soleil shows.
EYE IN EYE
The pits concentrate tables of the same type of game. Each table has a dealer, who exchanges money for chips and controls the bets. The floorman keeps an eye on the behavior of customers and up to three dealers. But it is the pit boss who takes care of the entire pit
WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Easier to play – just put the money in and press the button -, machines like slot machines and video poker collect 70% of the bets. Prizes of up to US$1200 are printed on a ticket and withdrawn at the register. Larger amounts are paid by a floorman, together with a treasurer
Cash flow
How the money comes out of the gambler’s pocket and ends up in the casino safe
1. At the bettor’s request, the dealer exchanges money for chips
2. The dealer “calls in” the amount and the floorman authorizes the transaction. To exchange USD 10,000 or more, the bettor needs to identify himself
3. The dealer counts the banknotes, one by one, on the table for camera verification and the bettor receives the chips
4. The money goes into a metal box labeled with the initials of the game and a number that identifies whether it is the morning, afternoon or night shift
5. At three specific times of the day, a group of five uniformed security guards and a treasury employee collect the boxes under the tables
6. The boxes go to an accounting room. There, the banknotes are separated and the values registered before the buffoon goes to the casino vault.