A casino, or gambling house, is a place where people can play a variety of games of chance for money. Modern casinos have a wide variety of entertainment features, such as restaurants, free drinks and stage shows, but the primary attraction is gambling. People gamble by throwing dice, rolling a ball or spinning a wheel. The history of casino gambling stretches back thousands of years. The game has been a popular form of entertainment in every culture where it has existed.
In the 1990s, casinos greatly increased their use of technology to monitor games and patrons. For example, betting chips with built-in microcircuitry allow casinos to see precisely how much money is wagered minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly so that any statistical deviation can be quickly detected. Elaborate surveillance systems have a “eye-in-the-sky” view of the entire casino floor and can be focused on specific suspicious patrons.
In the United States, there are a large number of land-based casinos. Nevada is famous for its Las Vegas resort casinos, and Atlantic City is also a well-known casino center. Many Native American tribes operate casinos as well. Most of these casinos are heavily regulated and have lots of security. Because they handle so much currency, casinos must be vigilant against cheating and theft by both patrons and employees. For this reason, most casinos have high-tech security cameras throughout the facilities. They also give perks to frequent gamblers, such as comps (complimentary hotel rooms, meals and show tickets).