A casino, or gaming house, is a place for certain types of gambling. In the United States, casinos are operated by private companies and are legal in some states. They are often combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are known for hosting live entertainment events, such as concerts and stand-up comedy. In the past, they were often referred to as saloons.
There are three general categories of casino games: gaming machines, table games, and random number games. Gaming machines are mechanical devices that accept cash or paper tickets with barcodes, and payout according to a predetermined schedule. Table games, such as blackjack and roulette, are conducted by live croupiers. Random number games, such as baccarat and craps, use randomly selected numbers to determine the outcome of a wager.
Because of their size and the large amounts of money handled, casinos are susceptible to cheating and theft by both patrons and staff. To combat this, casinos employ a variety of security measures. These include a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed-circuit television system, commonly referred to as its eye in the sky.
In the United States, the most famous and largest casino is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other major casinos can be found in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and on Indian reservations in several states. In addition, a growing number of casinos are being built outside the United States, particularly in Asia.