What is a Casino?

A casino is a facility where people can exchange money for chips to play games of chance. It can also offer entertainment shows and restaurants. It is a popular tourist attraction and is found in many cities around the world. To gamble, you must be of legal age and follow the rules of the casino.

The casino is the heart of the gambling industry, providing the billions in profits that fuel other entertainment businesses, such as hotels, shopping centers and theme parks. While musical shows, lighted fountains and elaborate hotels are a draw, the casinos would not exist without the games of chance: slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat.

While casinos are a major source of entertainment and tourism, they also have a dark side. In some places, like Nevada, casinos were once owned by organized crime figures who used the business to launder money from illegal drug dealing and extortion schemes. They often became involved in the gaming operations, taking sole or partial ownership and influencing the outcome of games through bribery, intimidation and violence directed at staff and patrons.

Modern casinos have multiple security measures in place to deter cheating and stealing, both by patrons and employees. These include cameras and other surveillance technology. On the floor, dealers keep an eye on their tables and can quickly spot blatant cheating such as palming, marking or switching cards. A separate department operates the closed-circuit television system, which is sometimes nicknamed the “eye in the sky.” The system can be adjusted to focus on specific suspicious patrons or areas.