A casino (or gambling house) is a place where people pay to play games of chance for money. Casino games include a wide range of traditional table games such as blackjack and roulette, as well as card games like poker. Some casinos also offer sports betting, and many have theatres for stage shows. Casinos are located in cities, resorts, and cruise ships. They also exist as independent buildings or are combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions.
Most modern casinos are highly sophisticated and employ a variety of security measures to prevent cheating and other illegal activities. In addition to security personnel, many have cameras in the gaming area that monitor patrons and game outcomes to ensure that the rules are followed. Modern casinos use computer technology to supervise the games, with built-in microcircuitry in the betting chips that interacts with electronic systems that oversee the amounts wagered minute by minute and alert staff if there is an unusual statistical deviation from expected results.
Casinos are a major source of revenue for state, provincial, and local governments. In addition, they provide jobs for a significant number of people and contribute to the economy by attracting tourists. Successful casinos generate billions of dollars in profits for the companies, investors, and Native American tribes that own them. In addition, they often provide a large percentage of the profits for their employees. In the past, some casinos were associated with organized crime. Mafia members supplied the bankroll for many casinos, and mobsters controlled or owned many of them.