A casino is a gambling establishment with a variety of games and other entertainment. Although casinos are famous for their dazzling lights, musical shows and elaborate themes, they would not exist without the billions of dollars in profits they make from gamblers who play a variety of games of chance, such as poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat.

Casinos use sophisticated surveillance systems to keep an eye on patrons as they play. Cameras in the ceiling can be moved by employees to focus on suspicious behavior. They can also be shifted to zoom in on the betting patterns of patrons to spot cheating. Each table, window and doorway is also monitored by cameras that can be viewed in a room filled with security monitors. A separate computer system analyzes the data to spot statistical deviations that might signal cheating. These systems are run by gaming mathematicians and computer programmers, who are often independent of the casinos themselves.

Because of the large amounts of money handled within a casino, it is important that security measures be taken to prevent cheating and stealing. Patrons may try to steal or cheat in collusion with other patrons or independently. In addition to security cameras, some casinos employ a team of forensic specialists to examine video footage for evidence of criminal activity. Other common security measures include a strict dress code and random bag checks of players and their belongings. Some casinos reward “good” players with free hotel rooms, dinners, tickets to shows and even limo service and airline tickets. This is known as comping.