A casino is a place where people can gamble on various games of chance for money or other prizes. There are a wide variety of gambling games that may be conducted within casinos, from classic table games like blackjack to electronic gaming machines and even sports betting. Some casinos also feature restaurants and other entertainment options for their patrons. Because casinos handle large amounts of currency, both patrons and employees may be tempted to cheat or steal from the establishment, leading to stringent security measures to prevent this. Many casinos employ a combination of physical security forces and specialized surveillance departments to monitor the facility and react to calls for assistance or suspicious or definite criminal activity.

Historically, casinos have been designed to maximize revenue and minimize operating expenses. Initially, this meant offering discounted travel packages, cheap buffets and free show tickets to encourage the maximum number of visitors to gamble and spend money at their establishments. As the industry evolved, casinos became choosier and focused their investments on “high rollers,” or people who bet huge sums of money. These individuals often play in special rooms, separate from the main floor, and are offered extravagant inducements such as free spectacular entertainment, reduced-fare transportation, elegant living quarters, and other perks.

In addition to the perks and bonuses, modern casinos invest heavily in technology to ensure fairness and prevent crime. In particular, video cameras and computerized systems are regularly used to supervise the games themselves. Chips with built-in microcircuitry are monitored minute-by-minute, and roulette wheels are electronically scanned to detect any statistical deviations from the expected results.