What Is a Casino?

A casino is a gambling establishment that offers various games of chance. It is also known for giving out complimentary items to gamblers, such as food, hotel rooms, show tickets and limo service. Casinos are usually located near hotels, restaurants, retail shops and cruise ships. They are also found on American Indian reservations, where state antigambling laws do not apply.

In the past, casinos often were run by organized crime figures, because they provided funds for drug dealing, extortion and other illegal rackets. Mobster money flowed steadily into Reno and Las Vegas, and a number of casinos were owned solely or partly by the mafia. Casino owners sought to dispel the seamy image, however, by hiring professional security staffs and instituting sophisticated surveillance systems.

Modern casinos are usually divided into a physical security force and a specialized department for surveillance. The surveillance department is able to monitor the entire casino floor from a single room using high-tech cameras with a wide range of lenses. The cameras are linked to a computer system that can be adjusted to focus on suspicious patrons.

Despite their lavish accommodations and entertaining nightlife, casinos are not without their share of problems. A significant percentage of casino patrons are compulsive gamblers, and studies indicate that their losses to the casinos far exceed any monetary benefit they may bring to the local economy. Critics also contend that casino profits often represent a shift in spending from other types of entertainment, and that the cost of treating problem gambling and lost productivity offset any economic benefits casinos may bring to a city.