A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various games of chance to its customers. These include slot machines and table games, like poker, blackjack and roulette. Most casinos also offer a variety of entertainment shows. In order to gamble at a casino, customers must be of legal age and follow the rules and regulations of the establishment. In addition, some states require that casino employees be licensed.
In modern times, casino security is usually divided between a physical force and a specialized surveillance department. The former patrols the casino floor and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity, while the latter operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, commonly known as “eye in the sky”. Casinos are vulnerable to theft by both patrons and staff, and security personnel must be vigilant at all times.
Casinos are popular tourist destinations and attract millions of visitors each year. In the United States, there are approximately 1,000 commercial casinos. Most of these are located in Las Vegas, Nevada; however, a growing number are being built on American Indian reservations. In addition, there are a significant number of illegal casinos operating in the United States.