Casino is an entertainment venue where gamblers can try their luck at games of chance and skill. Casinos often include table games like blackjack and roulette, as well as slot machines. They can be located in massive resorts or small card rooms. In addition, there are casinos on boats and barges that operate in riverboat gambling states, as well as casinos built into racetracks. A growing number of Native American tribes also operate casinos. Casinos bring in billions of dollars each year for companies, investors, and people who visit them. But compulsive gambling can cause serious problems for some people. And studies suggest that the social costs of casinos—including crime, addiction treatment, and lost productivity—outweigh any economic benefits.
Some of the most famous casinos are in Las Vegas, which is the largest gambling center in the world. Others are in Atlantic City and Chicago. Most of these casinos feature high-end hotels, restaurants, and other amenities. Many offer shows, shopping, and other forms of entertainment. Some are designed to be visually exciting, with lighting and music to create a mood.
Because large amounts of money are handled within casinos, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. Casinos spend a lot of time and money on security. For example, they employ a variety of cameras to monitor the gambling floor, and employees are trained to spot suspicious behavior. Some casinos use a system called “eye-in-the-sky” that lets security workers watch every table, window, and doorway from a separate room filled with banks of video screens.