A casino is a gambling establishment that provides various games of chance and other entertainment to patrons. These establishments typically add luxuries to their operations to help them attract and retain customers, such as restaurants, free drinks, stage shows and dramatic scenery. Casinos also often have security measures to deter cheating and stealing by both patrons and staff.
In the United States, the term casino usually refers to a large gaming facility located in a hotel and/or resort. It may also refer to a smaller gambling establishment, such as one located in an airport or on a cruise ship. A few casinos are also found on Native American reservations, which are exempt from state antigambling laws.
Casinos are a major source of revenue for local governments and are frequently built near or on top of government-owned property. In addition to a physical security force, most modern casinos employ specialized surveillance departments that monitor both activity and patrons. These departments are often divided into a patrol and detection division. The patrol division consists of officers that regularly walk the casino floor and respond to calls for assistance or suspicious activity. The detection division consists of computerized systems that detect anomalies in game outcomes, such as a roulette wheel spinning faster or slower than expected.
When polled, most casino gamblers indicate that they play mostly slot machines and card games. Other popular games include baccarat, sic bo, and fan-tan. In Asian casinos, players can also find traditional Far Eastern games such as tai chi, fan-tan, and two-up.