A casino is an entertainment establishment that offers gambling, restaurants and entertainment. Its lavish hotels, lighted fountains, musical shows and shopping centers are all intended to lure in the customers. But it is the games of chance that rake in the billions of dollars that casinos make each year. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps and keno all provide the excitement and profits for which casinos are famous.
Despite their massive size and lavish themes, casinos are not immune to the effects of economic reality. Studies have shown that they divert money away from other forms of local entertainment and hurt property values in the surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, the high costs of treating compulsive gamblers and the loss of productivity caused by their addiction can reverse any positive economic impact a casino may have in a community.
In the past, casinos were illegal in most states, but New York City and other cities have since changed their laws to allow them. In addition, many American Indian reservations now have casinos that are exempt from state anti-gambling laws.
Casinos employ many security measures to keep their patrons safe, from the smallest details to the largest. Casino staff members are trained to spot blatant cheating such as palming or marking dice. Casinos also use chips instead of cash to reduce the risk that patrons will be concerned with the actual amount they are losing. Moreover, casinos use sophisticated surveillance systems that give them an “eye-in-the-sky” view of the entire facility at once.