A casino, also known as a gambling house or a gaming establishment, is an establishment where people can play gambling games. Most casinos offer a wide variety of games, such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker. Some are combined with hotels, resorts, or restaurants. Other casinos are stand-alone gambling facilities. In the United States, there are a number of places that are well-known as casinos, such as Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City.
Casinos are typically supervised by a full-time security force and specialized surveillance departments. They use closed circuit television systems, which are often called “eyes-in-the-sky” to monitor casino activities and spot any suspicious or definite criminal activity. They also use a network of hidden cameras to supervise table games and other casino operations.
Because of the large amounts of money handled within a casino, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion or independently. As a result, many casinos have strict rules about how and where gamblers can bet.
In the past, mobster money flowed steadily into Reno and Las Vegas casinos, but federal investigations and the possibility of losing a gaming license at the faintest hint of mafia involvement kept legitimate businessmen away from gambling’s seamy image. Today, real estate investors and hotel chains with incredibly deep pockets are taking over the casino industry. They can afford to pay for lavish inducements such as free spectacular entertainment, luxury transportation and elegant living quarters to attract big bettors and make them feel like a million dollars.