Casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of games of chance to its patrons. Many casinos also offer hotels and restaurants, making them a popular tourist destination.

Due to the large amounts of money involved, casino patrons may be tempted to cheat or steal, either in collusion with each other or by themselves. As a result, most casinos employ a variety of security measures to prevent this from occurring. The most basic form of casino security is the presence of cameras throughout the facility. Some casinos even have high-tech “eyes-in-the-sky” surveillance systems that allow security personnel to watch every table, doorway and window from a room filled with banks of monitors.

Other security methods include the use of chips rather than actual currency, which makes it harder to conceal smuggled money; and the use of pit bosses or table managers who supervise the tables with a broader view of the betting patterns that could signal cheating. Some modern casinos also have electronic systems that oversee the exact amounts wagered minute by minute, and can detect statistical deviations from expected results quickly. Some casinos have a specialized security department dedicated to specific areas such as cashiering, and some have full-time police officers on duty. Gambling has been a popular pastime for millions of people throughout history, and has become an integral part of many cultures. Despite its drawbacks, the casino industry continues to grow. In the United States, where state antigambling laws were once strict, more and more states are legalizing casino gambling.