A casino is a gambling establishment that offers a variety of games of chance. It also offers other entertainment activities, such as shows and dining. Its security is a major focus, as large amounts of money are handled by both patrons and employees. As a result, casino staff spend a lot of time and effort on surveillance.

A typical casino has a floor with game tables and slot machines. The game tables are staffed with dealers and pit bosses, who watch over the patrons and make sure everyone plays by the rules. Dealers are trained to spot blatant cheating, such as palming or roulette online manipulating cards and dice. Pit bosses have a broader view of the floor and can look for betting patterns that indicate collusion. All of these activities are recorded on CCTV cameras located throughout the facility.

Card games are the economic mainstay of American casinos, with baccarat (also known as chemin de fer in France) and blackjack being particularly popular. Some casinos also feature trente et quarante and other European card games, as well as regular poker tables where patrons play against each other and the casino makes a profit either by taking a percentage of the pot or charging an hourly fee to players.

Many casinos give out complimentary goods and services to frequent patrons, called comps. These can include free hotel rooms, meals, show tickets and even airline tickets. However, critics argue that the shift in spending away from other local businesses and the cost of treating gambling addicts more than offset any financial benefits casinos may bring to a community.