A casino is a place where people gamble and play games of chance or skill. Some casinos offer a wide variety of table games, while others specialize in video poker and other electronic machines. Most casinos are located in towns and cities with large populations, such as Las Vegas. People can also find casino-like venues in other states and countries. Some of these are operated by Native American tribes, while others are owned by companies, investors, or private individuals. The government regulates some but not all gambling activities.
Most people think of a casino as a place that is noisy, brightly lit, and filled with excitement. Many casinos add a number of other amenities to attract customers, such as restaurants, free drinks, and stage shows. These features make the casino a fun and exciting place to visit, but they do not change the fact that gambling is the primary activity.
Something about the environment of a casino (probably the presence of large amounts of money) seems to encourage cheating, theft, and other mischief on the part of both patrons and staff members. As a result, casinos spend a lot of time and money on security.
Security begins with personnel on the casino floor. Dealers are trained to look for blatant cheating techniques, such as palming and marking. Other personnel, such as pit bosses and table managers, have a more sweeping view of the tables and can keep track of how much each table is winning or losing. Casinos with elaborate surveillance systems may have cameras mounted in the ceiling that can be aimed at particular suspicious areas or patrons.