A casino is an establishment for gambling. It has a large number of slot machines and tables where people can play games like blackjack, roulette, and poker. Many casinos also have restaurants and bars where people can eat and drink. They may also have entertainment venues where people can watch shows or listen to music. Casinos can be found in cities and towns all over the world, and are often combined with hotels, resorts, or other tourist attractions.
Traditionally, casinos have been run by organized crime figures because they had plenty of money from their drug dealing and extortion activities to finance the operations. However, the mob’s involvement in casino gambling caused problems. The gangsters wanted control of the businesses and would frequently interfere with decisions made by management. They would even try to manipulate game outcomes and intimidate casino personnel. This is why the major hotel chains and real estate investors bought out the mob and began running casinos without their interference.
Modern casino security is usually divided between a physical force and a specialized surveillance department. The physical security force patrols the premises and responds to calls for help or reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. The surveillance department monitors the gaming areas and watches for signs of cheating, such as marking or switching cards or dice. They also look for betting patterns that indicate a player is putting in too much money and thus is likely to lose.