What is a Casino?

A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming hall, is an establishment for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, and other tourist attractions. Many people travel around the world excited to encounter a new casino, while others simply inadvertently stumble upon them and end up having a great time!

Successful casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that own them. These profits are largely generated by the customers who gamble at casino tables and slot machines. However, a significant part of the profits are also derived from casino-type games played outside of the casinos. In addition, some state and local governments reap profits from the casinos through taxes, fees, and other payments.

The high amounts of money involved in casino gambling can encourage both patrons and staff to cheat, steal or otherwise defraud each other and the casino. Therefore, most casinos spend a considerable amount of time and money on security measures. The most obvious are the security cameras positioned throughout the casino floor to watch every table, window, and doorway. Casinos also have catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look directly down, through one-way glass, at table and slot machine activities. In addition to these technological measures, casino employees have specific rules of conduct and behavior that they must follow. These rules are aimed at preventing both the appearance of and actual involvement in cheating or theft.