A casino is a gambling establishment where people can try their luck at winning money through games of chance. There are thousands of casinos in the world, from lavish resorts in Las Vegas to small neighborhood establishments. Many casinos are visited by tourists, but some locals also patronize them. In the United States, the most famous casino is in Atlantic City. Some casinos are owned and operated by large corporations; others are run by tribes or other organizations. Most casinos are located in states that allow gambling, though a few are legal in other countries as well.
In 2008, the largest percentage of casino gamblers reported preferring to play slot machines. Other popular games included blackjack, poker, and craps. Most casinos have an array of tables for these and other games. Some also offer far Eastern games such as sic bo and fan-tan, and some feature regional specialties like two-up in Australia or boule in France.
Something about the casino environment seems to encourage cheating and stealing, so casinos spend a lot of time, energy and money on security. In addition to cameras, casinos employ a variety of strategies to discourage cheating. They may have players keep their cards visible at all times, require dealers to touch the cards before dealing them, or give a ‘comp’ (free goods or services) to big-spending gamblers. They may also use a high-tech ‘eye-in-the-sky’ system that monitors every table, window and doorway. If any suspicious activity is detected, it can be reviewed later by casino personnel.