A casino is a place where people gamble and play games of chance. Many modern casinos offer elaborate luxuries like free drinks, stage shows and shopping centers to attract players, but casinos would not exist without the games of chance themselves. Slot machines, blackjack, baccarat and other games of chance generate the vast majority of a casino’s revenue. Craps, roulette and keno are also popular in some casinos, but these games don’t have the same level of skill required as a game such as video poker or baccarat.

Most people are familiar with the large casinos in Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City in New Jersey. But a growing number of cities across the United States are opening their own casinos to capitalize on the popularity of gambling. These casinos often create jobs and bring in tax revenue for their home towns. But they can also damage property values and increase the number of gambling addicts.

Security is a major issue in the casino industry, but it starts on the floor, where casino employees keep an eye out for cheaters. Dealers are heavily trained to spot blatant tricks, such as palming or marking cards. Pit bosses and table managers have a broader view of the casino, watching for betting patterns that could signal cheating.

In recent years, technological advances have made casino security even tighter. Chips at gaming tables now have microcircuitry that interacts with electronic systems to monitor exact amounts wagered minute by minute. Roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover statistical deviations from expected results. In the count room, where players’ chips are bundled and transported to the casino’s bank for deposit, casino personnel use microphones and cameras to watch every action.