A casino is a gambling establishment where people can gamble on games of chance and skill. Some casinos focus solely on table games, while others feature a full selection of slot machines and other types of gambling equipment. Some casinos also offer live entertainment, luxurious hotels and restaurants.

Security at casinos starts on the floor, where casino employees keep a close eye on game play to catch blatant cheating or other deviations from normal behavior. Dealers have a great view of the games and can easily spot palming, marking, or switching dice. Pit bosses and table managers have a more sweeping view of the tables, watching for betting patterns that could indicate cheating. Casinos also use video cameras and other technological means to monitor the activity of patrons and ensure that all is as it should be.

Casinos are generally built in areas with high income levels, and their clientele reflects this. The average American casino gambler is a forty-six-year-old female from a household with above-average income, according to research by Roper Reports GfK NOP and the U.S. Gaming Panel by TNS. This group includes older parents with a lot of free time and spending money, along with people from other countries who visit casinos as a way to experience local culture and nightlife.

The mob once controlled many casinos, but federal anti-mob laws and the deep pockets of real estate developers and hotel chains drove mobsters out of business. Now, a casino is almost always owned by a corporation with enough money to buy out the mob if it ever comes near.