A casino is a place where people can play games of chance for money. These games include slots, roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat and poker. Casinos also have restaurants and stage shows. The modern casino is like an indoor amusement park for adults, with gambling accounting for the vast majority of the revenue.
Security is a major concern for casinos, as they handle large amounts of cash. There are both physical and specialized surveillance systems to guard against theft and cheating. Some casinos use a high-tech “eye-in-the-sky” system where cameras in the ceiling monitor every table, window and doorway; they can be adjusted to focus on specific suspicious patrons. Other casinos use a more subtle approach, with security personnel trained to spot suspicious behavior patterns in the way dealers shuffle and deal cards or the location of betting spots on a table.
Because of the potential for cheating and theft, casinos have strict rules about who is allowed to gamble there. Most casinos are not open to minors, and people who have been convicted of a crime are not allowed in. The specialized surveillance systems used by casinos are very sophisticated, and they can detect many types of cheating. Casinos also have strict rules about how players interact with each other, and they will expel anyone who is being disruptive. Many casinos also offer perks to encourage people to spend more time and money there, such as free hotel rooms and meals, show tickets and limo service.