A casino is a place where people gamble in games of chance and skill. Casinos range in size from massive resorts like those in Las Vegas to small card rooms in bars and restaurants. They may be located on land or in water, and they are usually heavily guarded, manned by security personnel, and often feature video cameras. Casinos also offer electronic machines where the players bet with chips that are linked to a central system and monitored for statistical deviations from expected results.
Casinos earn billions of dollars each year from the patrons who play their games. In addition, casinos contribute to state and local economies through taxes and fees. Some of this money is used for maintenance and security. A successful casino, however, must weed out cheaters and thieves, who can be either in collusion with staff members or simply acting on their own. Security measures vary but typically include cameras, security personnel, and rules of conduct.
Many Americans enjoy visiting casinos. In 2004, 30% of those polled by the Gallup Organization reported that they had visited a casino in the previous twelve months. This is up from a low of 20% in 1989. The increase is due largely to legalization in New Jersey and elsewhere and the emergence of Native American gaming, which has allowed tribal casinos to grow rapidly. In many cases, these casinos compete with the larger, more famous ones in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.