A casino is a gambling establishment where patrons can gamble on games of chance. Some casinos also offer hotel rooms, restaurants and entertainment. The largest and best-known casinos in the world are located in Las Vegas, Nevada, although others exist worldwide. Some have even been featured in movies and TV shows.
Modern casinos are usually large and heavily secured places. They have a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The security personnel patrol the floor and respond to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. They work closely with the surveillance team, which operates the closed circuit television system known as the eye in the sky.
Many casinos have catwalks in the ceiling above the gaming area, which allow surveillance personnel to look directly down, through one way glass, on the activities of the tables and slot machines. In addition, some casinos have a special room where the most popular games of chance are played. These rooms are usually reserved for high rollers and are staffed by professional dealers. The most common casino games are blackjack, baccarat, roulette and poker.
Gambling is a popular pastime in most societies throughout history. It is believed that the ancient Mesopotamia, Rome, Greece and Elizabethan England all had some form of gambling. In the United States, it became legal to operate casinos in Nevada after other states noticed that tourists traveled there specifically for gambling opportunities. Casinos are typically operated by investment banks, which manage the games and make a profit by taking a cut of the profits of the patrons who play them.