A casino is a public place where a variety of games of chance can be played and gambling is the primary activity. Casinos add a host of luxuries to attract patrons, including restaurants, free drinks and stage shows. But even without the glitz, casinos are places where people gamble and lose money.
Gambling is legal in many states, and the United States is home to 340 casinos, including Las Vegas. Many of these are large and opulent, but a few have a more humble, rustic appearance. Some of the smaller casinos are owned by tribes or private individuals, and these may be more accessible to local residents.
Casinos have a variety of security measures to deter cheating and other problems. Some have catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to look down on the table games through one-way glass. Players at card games are required to keep their cards visible at all times, and casino employees often walk around observing players for unusual betting patterns that might indicate cheating.
In addition to the use of cameras, most casinos have electronic systems for overseeing individual game play and for alerting the staff to any statistical deviation from expected results. For example, roulette wheels are electronically monitored minute by minute for any anomalies; and slot machines are programmed to accept only certain bets.
Most casino patrons are affluent, and some are addicted to gambling. Critics contend that the losses of compulsive gamblers offset any economic benefits from casinos to a community.
