A casino is a place where people play games of chance for money. It is not just a modern-day invention; gambling in one form or another has been a part of every society throughout history. While modern casinos add luxuries such as restaurants, free drinks and stage shows to attract patrons, the basic idea remains the same.

A typical casino has a large selection of games such as blackjack, roulette and slot machines. It also offers live entertainment like musical performances and stand-up comedy acts. Some of the more popular games include sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow. A few casinos offer traditional Far Eastern games such as baccarat, trente et quarante and kalooki.

Many casinos are designed to be dazzling and luxurious, with lavish hotels, towers and replicas of famous landmarks. The interior design has a specific purpose, to make the patrons feel that they are at an exclusive club. This is achieved through a combination of gaudy floor and wall coverings, bright colors and the absence of clocks. The use of red is especially common, as it is believed to make the patrons lose track of time.

Because of the large amounts of cash that are handled within a casino, it is very important that it has effective security measures. These usually consist of a physical security force that patrols the building and a specialized surveillance department known as the “eye in the sky.” The surveillance system is very high-tech, and cameras can be directed to focus on certain suspicious patrons by security workers in a separate room filled with banks of video screens.