What Is a Casino?

A casino, also known as a gambling house or gaming establishment, is an establishment where people can gamble and play games of chance. Casinos can be built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and other tourist attractions.

In addition to slot machines and table games, many casinos have entertainment features like shows and fine dining, which can make them attractive to non-gamblers as well. Because of the large amounts of money handled by both patrons and employees, there is always the potential for theft and cheating. In order to prevent this, casinos spend a significant amount of time and money on security measures. Security starts on the casino floor, where casino employees keep a close eye on players and their actions. Casino employees have a trained eye to spot blatant cheating techniques like palming, marking or switching cards and dice. They also watch for betting patterns that could indicate cheating. Casinos also have catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look down through one-way glass on tables and slot machines.

There are more than 30 casinos in the United States, ranging from the overstimulating lights and sounds of the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh to the tiny Native American-run Naskila in Texas. Some casinos are located in cities with large populations of people who enjoy gambling, while others are in more remote areas. While casinos can bring in a lot of revenue, some critics argue that the cost of treating problem gambling and lost productivity by casino workers cancel out any economic gains the casinos generate for a community.