A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. It is also known as a gaming house, a gambling den, or a kasino. Casinos are typically built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other tourist attractions. In some cases, casinos are designed to be standalone buildings.
Casinos have a variety of security measures in place to prevent cheating and theft by both patrons and staff. These include a physical security force and specialized surveillance departments. Most modern casinos have security cameras throughout the building, which help to monitor activities. Many casinos also have catwalks in the ceiling that allow surveillance personnel to look down through one-way glass on the games.
Most casino games are based on chance, although some require skill. Casino games can be divided into three general categories: gaming machines, table games, and random number games. Gaming machines, such as slot machines, allow players to compete against the machine rather than each other. Table games, such as blackjack and craps, involve competing against the house, which is operated by live croupiers. Random number games, such as roulette and baccarat, involve the selection of random numbers from a computer or other source.
There are many casinos in the United States, with the largest being in Las Vegas. Other well-known casinos are located in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Biloxi, Mississippi; and Cherokee, North Carolina. Most states have legalized casino gambling, but some jurisdictions limit or prohibit it.