What Is a Casino?

A casino, or a casino (also spelled cazino or cazin) is an establishment where people can gamble and play various games of chance. Casinos are popular around the world and can be found attached to hotels, restaurants, or other social clubs. In the United States, casino gambling is legal in a few jurisdictions, most notably in Nevada and Atlantic City. In addition, some Native American tribes operate casinos. Many casinos employ specialized security departments to prevent crimes committed by both patrons and employees, including theft and fraud. Casino security is often divided into two departments: a physical security force that patrols the casino and responds to calls for help or suspicious or definite criminal activity, and a surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed circuit television system.

In modern times, casino security is often highly sophisticated. For example, some casinos use “chip tracking” technology to allow them to oversee the total amounts of chips wagered minute-by-minute and warn staff immediately if there are statistical deviations from expected results. Similarly, roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any anomalies.

Most modern casinos focus on customer service and offer perks designed to encourage gamblers to spend more money than average, such as free hotel rooms, meals, show tickets, and other amenities. Casinos also make a large amount of their revenue from high-stakes gamblers, who are referred to as “high rollers” because they place bets that exceed the limits of ordinary players. These customers are sometimes given special treatment by a casino, such as a separate room where they can gamble without being disturbed by other customers.