A casino is a gambling establishment that features a variety of games of chance and, sometimes, skill. While some casinos add a number of other luxurious elements to help attract patrons, any place where the primary activity is gambling can be called a casino.
The most well-known casino is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is often referred to as the Entertainment Capital of the World. However, many other cities and states feature casinos as well, including New Jersey and Atlantic City, and American Indian reservations.
There are a number of different ways that casinos ensure that their patrons have a fair and honest experience. Some use sophisticated surveillance systems, with cameras in the ceiling that can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons. In addition, a separate room filled with banks of security monitors constantly scans the casino floor for any anomalies. This eye-in-the-sky approach can catch a wide range of illegal activities, from blatant cheating to minor infractions like touching a card or dice.
Casinos also make sure that their employees are trained to detect cheating and other violations of the rules of the games. They look for specific routines in the way that dealers shuffle and deal cards, and in the expected reactions of players as they play. Casinos can even detect subtle deviations from the expected behavior of the game, such as when a player is obviously unhappy with their winnings. They can also check for things such as marking or switching dice, and improbable movements of chips.