In a casino, players place bets in exchange for money. If a bet wins, the player is paid according to the odds of winning. This is called the house edge. If a bet loses, the player is out of money.
Casinos have a number of controls in place to keep money from being stolen. For example, they buy their chips from suppliers who maintain strict control over the chips’ inventories. When the chips arrive, security staff match them against the shipping records. They also routinely monitor table games with computers, allowing them to oversee how many bets are placed minute by minute and quickly spot any unusual anomalies.
In addition to monitoring money, casinos also have to be careful about how much cash they accept in their establishments. They are classified as financial institutions, so they must file a suspicious activity report whenever someone tries to skirt the Bank Secrecy Act by swapping cash for chips or depositing large sums of money in one sitting. This is often an indication that a person is laundering money. Fortunately, the vast majority of casino visitors are honest and play responsibly. This is why the casino industry grows so rapidly, especially in China, which could become the world’s largest market by 2025. This growth is partially due to the increasing popularity of online gambling, which makes it easier for people to play from home. In addition, the casino industry in Asia is growing as the economy develops and people gain more disposable income.