A casino, or gambling house, is an establishment where people can gamble by playing games of chance. The most common types of casino games are blackjack, roulette, poker and craps. A casino also provides a variety of other entertainment options, such as shows and restaurants. Some casinos are located in luxurious resorts, while others are located in cities with large populations of people who enjoy gambling.
A modern casino usually has a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The physical security force patrols the casino and responds to calls for assistance or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. The specialized surveillance department operates the casino’s closed circuit television system, which is referred to in the industry as “the eye in the sky”. These departments work closely together and have proven to be effective in preventing crime.
The history of casinos is a complicated one, with both positive and negative effects. The popularity of the gambling houses has risen and fallen in tandem with public attitudes towards the games. Public opinion has been divided, with some countries banning casino gambling and others legalizing it for certain purposes.
In the United States, casino gambling is legal in Atlantic City and on Native American reservations. It is also legal in some Caribbean islands and in Europe. A number of American states have amended their anti-gambling laws during the 1980s and ’90s to allow casinos. Some of these casinos are operated by public corporations, while others are run by private organizations.