What Is a Casino?

A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. These establishments are often combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops or cruise ships and can include a full range of gaming activities such as roulette, poker and blackjack. Some casinos also offer other entertainment such as live sports and concerts. Casinos generate billions of dollars in revenue each year for the companies, investors, local governments and Native American tribes that own them.

Because large sums of money are handled within casinos, security is a key issue. Consequently, many casinos are heavily fortified with cameras and other electronic surveillance equipment. In addition, employees are trained to watch for suspicious patrons and to spot the slightest deviation from a norm. For example, the way a dealer shuffles and deals cards or where players place their chips on a table follows particular patterns that can be spotted by attentive staff.

While the most famous casinos are located in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, they can be found all over the world. Some are more glamorous than others, but they all share the same basic elements.

For example, the Monte Carlo is one of the most beautiful casinos in the world. Its origins date back to the 19th century, when it was pioneered by a princess and backed financially by the future pope Leo XIII. Today, its palatial interior—designed by the architect of the Paris opera house—makes it a popular filming location, including for James Bond movies.