A casino is a place where people gamble and play games of chance. While musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels draw in the crowds, casinos would not exist without games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps and other table games provide the billions in profits that keep the casino business running.

Casinos have been around for centuries in some form or another. They may have been operated by the mob or by independent operators, but they always depended on gambling to make money. With federal crackdowns and the threat of losing a gaming license at the slightest hint of mob involvement, legitimate businesses have bought out the mob operations, turning casinos into giant entertainment and resort complexes.

While most casinos are geared toward high rollers, some offer lower stakes for budget conscious players. In the United States, casinos can be found in Atlantic City, Las Vegas and many other cities. Many American Indian reservations also operate casinos, which are not subject to state antigambling laws.

Security at a casino begins on the floor, where employees keep an eye on the games and on patrons. Dealers are especially focused, watching for blatant cheating like palming and marking cards or switching dice. Pit bosses and table managers have a more general view of the tables, making sure that betting patterns do not seem suspicious. A separate room filled with banks of surveillance monitors provides a high-tech “eye in the sky” that can be adjusted to focus on specific suspicious patrons.