Casino is a place where people can gamble and play games of chance. These establishments can be found all over the world, from massive Vegas resorts to small card rooms in bars and restaurants. Many casinos are owned by corporations, investors, or Native American tribes, and earn billions in profits each year. Casino gambling also generates substantial revenue for state and local governments.

Gambling in a casino can lead to problems for some people, including addiction and compulsive behavior. To help prevent these issues, casinos employ a variety of security measures. Most casinos use cameras to monitor activity inside and outside the building. Those who work inside the casinos are trained to spot signs of trouble, such as suspicious behavior or a player sitting at a table with no money in front of him.

Most casinos offer free food and drinks to keep their patrons happy, although this does not reduce the house edge of the games. Casinos also use chips to make money more abstract, so players are less likely to become concerned about losing actual cash. They may put ATM machines in strategic locations, but this practice is regulated by some states.

Because of the large amounts of money handled, casinos are a tempting target for thieves and cheats. To counter this threat, most casinos have a strong physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The physical security force patrols the casino floor and responds to calls for assistance or reports of definite criminal activity, while the surveillance department watches the cameras from a control room in the ceiling above the gambling floor.