A casino is a large building where people can gamble and play games of chance. These games include slot machines, keno and table games such as blackjack, roulette and poker. In addition to gambling casinos often offer live entertainment and top-notch hotels.
Because they handle large amounts of money, casinos can be tempting to both patrons and employees to cheat or steal. This is why casinos spend a lot of time and money on security. Modern casinos typically have a physical security force that patrols the casino and responds to calls for help or reports of suspicious activity and a specialized surveillance department which operates a closed circuit television system, commonly known as the eye in the sky, that watches all aspects of the casino at all times.
In addition to security cameras, casino staff watch for suspect behavior. It isn’t uncommon for them to spot a cheating habit or question unusual betting patterns. They also have a good understanding of the math involved in the different casino games and can quickly identify when something is amiss.
While there are casinos throughout the world, the most famous are in Nevada and Atlantic City, New Jersey. There are 340 casinos in Nevada alone, making it the largest gaming state in the country. Other states that have legal land-based casinos include Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. Many American Indian reservations are also home to casinos. Casinos are often built on Native American reservations because they are exempt from state antigambling laws.