Casino is a gambling establishment that offers players the chance to gamble on games of chance such as slot machines, roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat and poker. While casinos may also feature a variety of other attractions like restaurants, night clubs and shopping centers, it is the games of chance that bring in the billions of dollars in profits.

Security is a top priority for casinos. In addition to the numerous guards that patrol the casino floor, a variety of other surveillance measures are employed. Cameras positioned throughout the casino provide a bird’s-eye view of the floor and can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons by security personnel in a separate room filled with banks of security monitors. Guards at each table game also keep an eye out for blatant cheating, such as marking cards and changing dice.

The casino industry also rewards frequent players with comps, or free goods and services. Patrons who spend a large amount of time at the casino, such as those who play high-stakes poker or place large bets on the tables, can expect to receive free food, hotel rooms and even limousine service.

Something about the presence of large amounts of money seems to encourage casino patrons to cheat or steal, either in collusion with other patrons or on their own. This, along with the cost of treating problem gambling and the loss of productivity by addicted casino visitors, often more than offsets the revenue that a casino brings in to a community.