A casino is a place where people can find a variety of ways to gamble under one roof. A typical casino adds a host of luxuries to attract patrons, such as restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. However, less elaborate places that house gambling activities can also be called casinos.
Casinos are a major employer and a significant source of revenue in many cities and states. In addition, the profits from casino gambling help finance many other businesses and industries. While some states prohibit gambling, others have regulated it by licensing casinos. Nevada and New Jersey are two of the most famous states that feature legal land-based casinos. Many other countries also have casinos.
Given the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. This is why casinos invest a lot of time and money into security measures. The most basic of these are security cameras located throughout the casino.
In addition to cameras, other technology helps casinos monitor their games and their patrons. For example, chip tracking allows casinos to watch how much money is being wagered on each table minute by minute; and roulette wheels are electronically monitored for statistical deviations from their expected values. Casinos also work hard to prevent problem gambling by offering special rooms for high rollers and monitoring their behavior closely.