A casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. It can be integrated into hotels, resorts, cruise ships, and other tourist facilities or stand alone as an independent facility. The largest casinos in the world are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, followed by Atlantic City, New Jersey and Chicago, Illinois. Many state governments regulate and audit these casinos to ensure that they are operating fairly and within the law.

Although a modern casino adds entertainment, food and drink, shopping centers and stage shows to draw customers, the vast majority of revenue is still derived from the games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, poker, baccarat and craps bring in the billions of dollars in profits that make casinos profitable businesses.

While the high stakes and large amounts of money that are handled in a casino may tempt patrons and employees to cheat or steal, most casinos have taken steps to prevent this. The most obvious is the presence of security cameras throughout the facility. These can be adjusted to focus on specific suspicious people or areas, and the video is recorded so that it can be reviewed afterward for evidence of a crime.

In addition to cameras, a casino’s security staff may be composed of physical security guards and a specialized surveillance department. The guards patrol the casino and respond to reports of suspected or definite criminal activity. The surveillance staff operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” that can be focused on specific tables, windows and doors.