A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Generally, casinos feature games of chance and skill, and their customers are usually of legal age to gamble. In many countries, casino gambling is regulated by law. Casinos also typically offer entertainment shows and are staffed by professional employees.
While musical shows, lighted fountains and elaborate themes help draw in the crowds, a casino’s primary source of income is its gambling offerings: slot machines, blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, craps, and other table games. While such games give patrons the opportunity to win big money, they are also a temptation for cheating and theft. To counter this, most casinos employ a variety of security measures. For example, surveillance cameras are located throughout the building and can be adjusted to focus on specific patrons or tables. Similarly, many slot machines are wired to a central computer system that records payouts; any statistical deviations alert security personnel.
In addition to these technological tools, a casino’s staff enforces security through rules and behavior. For example, patrons at card games must keep their hands visible at all times. In the past, mob involvement in casinos was common; however, real estate investors and hotel chains with deep pockets bought out the gangsters and made casino operations more legitimate. The result was a dramatic decrease in mafia activity, as well as more efficient and effective security measures.