A casino is a place where people gamble and play games of chance. Casinos are often very large buildings with a wide variety of games, restaurants and bars. They also have security measures to prevent criminal activity. These may include a physical security force and specialized surveillance departments. In addition, casinos have strict rules about player behavior. For example, players must keep their cards visible at all times. This way, security can quickly check if a person is cheating or violating the rules.

Aside from gambling, casinos provide entertainment in the form of shows and other events. In the United States, most of these events take place in Las Vegas. However, there are many casinos in other cities and states as well.

While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers help attract customers, casinos are built on the profits from gambling. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette and craps bring in billions of dollars each year for casinos. The other big money maker is poker.

As a result of the large amount of money that passes through casino doors, both patrons and staff may be tempted to steal or cheat. This can happen in collusion with others or independently. In order to prevent this, most modern casinos have several layers of security. In addition to a physical security force, most have a specialized surveillance department that uses cameras to monitor the casino floor. Some casinos also have catwalks in the ceiling where surveillance personnel can look down through one-way glass on table and slot games.