A casino (also called a gaming house or gambling establishment) is an establishment where patrons may engage in various forms of gambling. In addition to providing games of chance, most casinos also offer restaurants, entertainment and other amenities. Some casinos are combined with hotels, resorts or other tourist attractions. Casinos are most commonly found in the United States, Europe and Asia, but they can also be located in other countries.
A few of the more popular casino games are poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and slot machines. The games offered at a casino depend on local laws and regulations. Most modern casinos feature a variety of games and are designed to appeal to all senses, especially sight and sound. Brightly colored and sometimes gaudy floor and wall coverings are used to create stimulating and cheering effects. Generally, there are no clocks displayed on the walls of a casino to prevent people from losing track of time.
In order to generate excitement and lure patrons, most casinos feature free or reduced-fare transportation, elegant living quarters, spectacular shows and nonalcoholic beverages. Some casinos even give their players a “comp” card, similar to an airline frequent flyer program, which tracks the amount of money a patron spends on casino games and other casino activities.
Due to the large amounts of cash handled by both patrons and staff, casino security is an important issue. Security measures usually involve a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. In many cases, the surveillance departments monitor casino activity via closed circuit television.