A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various games of chance and skill, such as blackjack and roulette. In addition to gambling, many casinos offer restaurants and bars. These facilities have a number of security measures in place to protect both patrons and property. They are often guarded by armed security personnel and have closed circuit television systems, or “eyes in the sky.” Some casinos have catwalks built into their ceilings that allow surveillance personnel to look down on activities at tables and slot machines.
Historically, the word casino referred to a specific building where gambling was permitted, but modern casinos can also be a large hotel complex or themed resort. A number of these casinos are well known, primarily due to their location or architecture. The Casino at Monte Carlo, for example, is world famous as the setting for several James Bond novels and films.
Most casinos are located in gambling zones, and most of these are in cities that are considered to be gambling centers. Some of these include Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Macau. There are also numerous casinos on American Indian reservations, which are not subject to state anti-gambling laws.
As a result of their vast sums of money, casinos are susceptible to cheating and theft by both patrons and employees. Because of this, most casinos have security measures in place to prevent such behavior. These may include cameras, armed security forces, and rules of conduct and behavior.