A casino is a gambling establishment where people play games of chance for money. The games of chance include slot machines, baccarat, blackjack, roulette and craps. These games generate the billions of dollars in profits that casinos make every year. Casinos also feature entertainment such as musical shows and lighted fountains, but the vast majority of their revenue comes from gambling.
Most modern casinos contain a wide variety of these games, and some even have special sections that focus on certain types of games, like video poker or keno. Many casinos also have Asian-style games such as sic bo, fan-tan and pai gow. These games are primarily played by locals and can be found in most major cities.
Casinos are regulated by law to ensure fairness and safety for their patrons. They employ security cameras to monitor the games and prevent cheating or stealing. Because of the large amounts of money that are handled within a casino, both patrons and employees may be tempted to steal or cheat. To help prevent this, most casinos have strict rules of conduct and require that players keep their hands visible at all times.
The mob once controlled a large number of casinos, but federal crackdowns and the threat of losing their licenses at even the smallest hint of mafia involvement have forced them out. Today, real estate developers and hotel chains are the largest owners of casinos. Those with deep pockets can afford to spend millions of dollars on flashy attractions, but they still have to make sure that the money they bring in is actually won through chance.