A casino is a gambling establishment that offers games of chance and skill. It is found in large and lavish resorts, as well as in small card rooms on Native American reservations. Casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for the investors, owners and local, state and tribal governments that run them. They also provide entertainment and a variety of other services to attract gamblers.
The Bellagio in Las Vegas is probably the world’s best-known casino, but it is far from the only one. There are casinos all over the world, from Monaco and Lisbon to Baden-Baden in Germany and Macau in China. Some of them are more famous than others, though. This is because they are featured in movies and TV shows or they are simply very beautiful places to visit.
Something about the casino business seems to encourage people to cheat and steal, or at least try. That’s why casinos spend a lot of time and money on security. Elaborate surveillance systems offer a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” that allows security workers to monitor every table, window and doorway in the entire facility. Cameras can even be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons.
Besides cameras, casinos enforce security with rules and routines. The way a dealer shuffles and deals cards, for instance, follows certain patterns. Casinos can also spot a crooked or dishonest player by looking at his or her betting patterns. Some casinos reward loyal players with free hotel rooms, meals, show tickets and even limo service and airline tickets.