A casino is a place that houses a wide variety of games of chance and where gambling is the primary activity. Some casinos go further and add other luxuries, such as restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery, to help attract customers. But there are also less elaborate places that house gaming activities and would still be considered casinos.
In the United States the word casino most commonly refers to a large resort destination like Las Vegas. However, there are several other cities that have casinos, including Atlantic City, New Jersey; Detroit, Michigan; and Chicago, Illinois. Many of these casinos have become major tourist attractions, rivaling the likes of Orlando, Florida; and Reno, Nevada.
Some casinos offer a limited selection of games, while others have dozens of different tables and slot machines. The most common casino games are roulette, blackjack, craps and poker. Other popular games include keno, bingo and baccarat. Some casinos even have sports betting sections.
Because casino patrons often have large amounts of money on hand, security is a major concern. The basic form of casino security consists of personnel patrolling the floor and watching over each game table. In addition, more sophisticated casinos use an elaborate surveillance system known as the “eye in the sky.” Cameras in the ceiling can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons and can be watched from a room filled with banks of monitors. These cameras can also be used to record the action on a video screen.
