In its most basic form, a casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Its patrons may bet with paper money, chips or other objects, or with electronic devices that display digitally determined odds. Casinos may also offer complimentary items or comps to gamblers. Casinos are generally located near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships and other tourist attractions.
Casinos are a major source of revenue for some states. In addition, they are the largest employer in some regions. They are usually regulated by state law. Some casinos are open to the public, while others are private clubs for members only. A small number of casinos are operated by Native American tribes. The largest concentration of casinos is in Nevada, followed by Atlantic City, New Jersey and Chicago.
Modern casino facilities are designed to lure tourists and locals with elaborate themes, top-notch hotels, gourmet restaurants and dazzling shows. But they would not exist without gambling: Slot machines, table games, poker and craps are the games that provide the billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos every year.
Something about casinos seems to encourage cheating and theft, both among casino patrons and staff. As a result, most casinos employ a great deal of security technology and practices. A casino’s security force is typically divided between a physical security department that patrols the facility and responds to calls for assistance or suspicious activity, and a specialized surveillance department that operates a closed circuit television system that is sometimes called the “eye in the sky.” These systems monitor the activities of gamblers at the tables and slots.
