A casino is a building where people can gamble and play games of chance. It is also a place where people can socialize and eat. A casino has many security measures in place to protect its patrons. These include cameras, surveillance systems and specialized security departments.

In the early days of gambling, casinos were owned by gangsters who had lots of money and wanted to capitalize on the growing popularity of gambling. However, legitimate businessmen were reluctant to get involved with casinos because of the taint of illegal racketeering that had made them so popular with organized crime.

As the industry grew, more and more states legalized gambling. Casinos began to appear in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and on American Indian reservations, which were exempt from state antigambling laws. Casinos also began to be built on the Vegas strip, which was a draw for tourists from all over the world.

Modern casinos often have entertainment options, such as shows or fine dining, to keep their patrons occupied while they gamble. They may also give players free hotel rooms or meals if they spend large amounts of time playing at the casino. These freebies are called comps.

Something about the nature of gambling encourages people to cheat, steal or scam their way to a jackpot. Hence, casinos spend a great deal of time and effort on security. They have a physical security force to patrol the premises, as well as a specialized department that supervises the actual game play itself. Casinos use a variety of technology for this purpose, from betting chips with built-in microcircuitry to monitor the amount of money wagered minute by minute, to electronic monitoring of roulette wheels to discover any statistical deviations.