A casino is a gambling establishment where people can place wagers on games of chance and, in some cases, skill. Casinos can be located in land-based buildings or on seagoing vessels such as riverboats and cruise ships. Gambling has been a popular pastime throughout history. It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 legal casinos and gaming houses in operation worldwide.
In addition to gambling, many casinos have restaurants and bars that serve food and drinks. Many also offer hotel rooms, theaters, and other entertainment facilities. Most modern casinos have extensive security measures. These include a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The latter often operates a closed-circuit television system that is known in the industry as the eye in the sky.
Casino employees keep an eye on patrons to make sure they are playing fair. They watch for blatant cheating, such as palming cards or marking dice, and they look for betting patterns that might indicate cheating. The croupiers who run table games usually have a higher view of the table and can spot suspicious betting.
Something about gambling (probably the presence of large amounts of money) encourages people to try to cheat, steal or scam their way into a jackpot. Because of this, casino security is an important part of the business.