A Casino is an establishment for certain types of gambling. In addition to providing gambling, some casinos also offer luxury accommodations, restaurants, and other entertainment options. The term can also refer to an exclusive area within a hotel or resort, or an entire building dedicated to gambling activities. Some casinos have a specific focus, such as a gourmet restaurant or a stage show.

The most famous casino in the world is perhaps the Bellagio in Las Vegas, though the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden first gained fame as a playground for European royalty and aristocracy 150 years ago. Casinos have since become a global attraction, drawing visitors from around the world and making them an important part of many cities’ tourist industries.

Casinos have a variety of security measures in place to protect their patrons and their profits. These include cameras with an “eye-in-the-sky” capability that allow staff to watch every table, change window and doorway from a control room, as well as to spot suspicious betting patterns. Similarly, pit bosses and table managers monitor gamblers closely for signs of cheating or collusion.

Something about gambling (perhaps the promise of large jackpots) encourages people to try to beat the house by cheating, stealing or switching cards. This is why casinos spend so much time and money on security. Unlike some more traditional gaming houses, which are run by organized crime, most modern casinos are owned by wealthy businesspeople who have bought out the mob, and have strict rules about not hiring mafia members or even associating with them.