A Casino is a place where a variety of gambling activities take place. While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers help draw in the crowds, casinos wouldn’t exist without the games of chance. Slot machines, black jack, roulette, craps and keno provide the billions of dollars in profits that casinos rake in every year.
In order to protect their assets and patrons, most casinos have extensive security measures in place. They may include physical security forces patrolling the casino and a specialized surveillance department, also known as “the eye in the sky.” The cameras allow the casino to monitor everything that is happening on the gaming floor, and the staff can adjust their focus to track down suspicious activity.
The earliest casinos were built in Nevada, but the industry quickly grew beyond that state’s borders when other states legalized gambling. Soon, Atlantic City and New Jersey were booming, followed by other states like Iowa and Illinois. Native American casinos are another growing segment of the industry.
The modern casino is often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops and even cruise ships. Some casinos host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, concerts and sports events. In military and non-military usage, a Casino (Spanish for Gambling House) can refer to an officers’ mess or a barracks. The word is also used to describe large building complexes in which the entire community can gamble and socialize. However, this use is increasingly restricted by many jurisdictions.