Because casinos are a cash-intensive business, it's no surprise that they attract their share of thieves and other criminals. By exercising common sense and knowing a little about some common thievery tricks, you can protect yourself and your bankroll without sacrificing your enjoyment.

Inside the casino, you've got a lot of help in the form of the casino's security system. Security guards are always on the gaming floor, keeping an eye on things, and surveillance cameras record everything that happens in virtually every nook and cranny, usually even in parking lots and garages. The main exception is restrooms; usually cameras are trained on the entrances and exits of public restrooms, but they are not in the restrooms themselves. Should you be the victim of a pickpocket or other thief on the casino's property, always report it to casino security. Chances are the cameras caught the act on tape, and the security department can track down the miscreant.

The first rule in protecting yourself and your valuables, of course, is not to make yourself a soft target. Thieves and pickpockets look for easy marks:

• People who wave a lot of cash around or boast publicly about how much they've won

• People who are careless with their cash, leaving coin cups, chips, purses, or wallets lying about

• People who don't seem to be alert to their surroundings or are distracted

Protecting Yourself on the Gaming Floor

The gaming floor is fertile ground for thieves. Players get caught up in the game, whether it's craps, blackjack, or slots, and they forget to pay attention to their valuables and their surroundings. If you carry a purse, keep it on your lap while you're playing. Don't put it on the floor or on the shelf next to the game; it's too easy to lose track of it if you get engrossed in the game. Never hang your purse on the back of your chair, either on the gaming floor or at a restaurant.

At the table games, keep your chips in front of you, and be alert for distractions like an argument, a spilled drink, or even a fall. Thieves have been known to use such measures to take players' attention away from their stacks, and they use the opportunity to pocket some or all of the chips lying unattended on the table. At crowded tables, like craps, keep one hand on your chip rack at all times.

At the slot machines, keep your coin cup in front of you whenever possible; the best place is in the coin tray. Sit close enough to the machine that you would notice if someone reached for your coin cup. Don't put your cup on the shelf next to the machine; someone can reach in from either side to take a handful of coins, or even the entire cup, without you noticing.

Remember that chips and slots tokens are the same as cash at the casino, so protect them the same way. For slots that use ticket systems instead of coins or tokens, the tickets are the same as cash and deserve the same care. Cashless slot machines that use a PIN-controlled account card are more secure; the card can be used only with the PIN code, and if your card is lost or stolen, the casino cage can close your account or issue you a new card.

Protecting Yourself in Your Room

Hotel rooms at casinos also can be targets for thieves. When you're in your room, always use the chain lock and the deadbolt if available. This will prevent someone with a master key from entering the room while you're inside. It's a sensible precaution at any hotel, whether you're taking a shower, changing into evening dress, or simply relaxing in between activities.

Don't leave your wallet or purse out in the open. Put it in the drawer of the nightstand or in the closet, anywhere out of sight. If you have a lot of cash or other valuables with you, make use of the hotel's safe or ask for a safe-deposit box at the casino cage. Remember, the cage counter is under the eye of the ever-present surveillance cameras, and most casinos require their cage personnel to count out money, whether it's coming in or going out, in a specific pattern so the cameras (and the people who monitor them) can easily see what's going on. Make sure the box is securely locked; most require two keys to open and lock them.

If You Are a Victim

Even if you take all the precautions you can think of, you still might find yourself a victim of theft or other crime. If this happens, make sure you file a report with casino security and, if necessary, with the police department. Most casinos work closely with local or state police and will be happy to cooperate with you. For insurance purposes, you'll need a written report to prove your claim.

If credit cards or identification, like a driver's license or social security card, are among the things stolen, take prompt steps to protect your credit rating. You can do this by calling the three major consumer credit-reporting bureaus — Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian — and asking to talk to their fraud departments. You can ask the credit bureaus to mark your file with a “fraud alert” flag, and you can attach a written victim's statement to your credit report. This alerts potential new creditors to the fact that your identification has been stolen, and they generally will take extra steps to ensure that new accounts are genuine before granting credit. You can ask that the fraud alert and victim's statement remain on your credit report for up to seven years, but you must make that request in writing.

Finally, if your wallet or purse is stolen, close all accounts that might be affected. This includes credit cards, bank accounts, and any other accounts a thief might have access to. For example, you might want to contact your phone company, cellular phone carrier, Internet service provider, electric company, and so on; even if the account numbers for these services weren't among the stolen items, the thief might be able to track them down with your address or your social security number, or both.